by the rules
1 of 2phrase
: in the way that is most common, expected, and acceptable
After years of boredom, she grew tired of living by the rules.
He has played by the rules throughout his career.
: in the way that is most common, expected, and acceptable
After years of boredom, he grew tired of living by the rules.
She has always played by the rules throughout her career.
Examples of by the rules in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Luke Fountain, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
There’s a strong incentive to play by the rules.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 28 Nov. 2025
Adele LaTourette, the assistant vice president of policy and advocacy at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, raised concerns about how the changes could affect children in households touched by the rules.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Children must abide by the rules for keeping the elves at home.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by the rules
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Idiom
Outlets that refused to abide by the rules lost their Pentagon credentials.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
There’s a strong incentive to play by the rules.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 28 Nov. 2025
Adele LaTourette, the assistant vice president of policy and advocacy at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, raised concerns about how the changes could affect children in households touched by the rules.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Children must abide by the rules for keeping the elves at home.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by the rules
Cite this Entry
“By the rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20the%20rules. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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