rule out

verb

ruled out; ruling out; rules out

transitive verb

1
2
: to make impossible : prevent
heavy rain ruled out the picnic

Example Sentences

another loss would rule them out of the tournament
Recent Examples on the Web Sean Ebony Coleman, a trans activist and founder of the LGBTQ+ center Destination Tomorrow in New York, said policymakers — particularly on a national level — need to completely rule out any option for trans people to be further ostracized. Sean Murphy, Hannah Schoenbaum, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Apr. 2023 Tonight: Can’t rule out an evening shower or thunderstorm mainly north of D.C. Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023 Police identified the shooter as a 28-year-old transgender and did not rule out that gender identity may have been a factor in a manifesto that was left behind, but network executives issued a memo to employees urging them to stay away from such coverage, according to The New York Post. Fox News, 31 Mar. 2023 That view echoes other experts who don’t necessarily rule out de-extinction but also see its justifiable use as limited. Alessandro Clemente, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2023 Widhani does not rule out delving into other facets of the studio’s history for future shows. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Mar. 2023 The connection speed in most modern wireless models and wired options is virtually identical, so even if low latency is a priority for you, this doesn’t rule out wireless options for most users. Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 Yet Karen Meech, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, doesn’t rule out a simpler explanation. Byjonathan O’callaghan, science.org, 22 Mar. 2023 The designation on their daily injury report marked the first time since Doncic’s absence started March 11 that the team didn’t automatically rule out Doncic the day before a game. Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 19 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rule out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rule out was circa 1658

Dictionary Entries Near rule out

Cite this Entry

“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20out. Accessed 27 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

rule out

verb
: to eliminate the possibility of

More from Merriam-Webster on rule out

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