rule out

verb

ruled out; ruling out; rules out

transitive verb

1

: exclude, eliminate

They were ruled out as candidates for the job.

2

: to make impossible : prevent

Heavy rain ruled out the picnic.

Synonyms of rule out

• exclude
• ban
• bar
• eliminate
• shut out
• freeze out
• prevent
• prohibit

Examples of rule out in a Sentence

another loss would rule them out of the tournament

Recent Examples on the Web

The main threat for the metro is damaging winds, though hail and an isolated tornado can’t be ruled out. —Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026

An isolated shower can't be ruled out in the morning, but isolated thunderstorms arrive later. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Different 'tools' if diplomacy fails Vance did not rule out military fighting intensifying before the war ends, if months of negotiations fail to produce a deal. —Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Some of the remaining members of the 2020 NASA Artemis astronaut cadre that could be ruled out include Kate Rubins, who retired from NASA in 2025, as well as Joe Acaba, Kjell Lindgren and Scott Tingle. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rule out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

Kids Definition

rule out

verb

: to eliminate the possibility of