rule out
verb
ruled out; ruling out; rules out
2
: to make impossible : prevent
Heavy rain ruled out the picnic.
Examples of rule out in a Sentence
another loss would rule them out of the tournament
Recent Examples on the Web
Newcastle are keen to avoid becoming seen as a ‘selling club’ and will fight to keep hold of key players such as Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento, though a significant outgoing cannot be ruled out given the potential PSR benefits and the desire to refresh.
—
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
As the Los Angeles Lakers geared up for their Sunday night matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, the NBA superstar LeBron James was ruled out in advance.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Sometimes, brain imaging or blood tests are needed to rule out another health issue.
—Katherine Cobb-Pitstick, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
In beachfront communities still rattled by the deadly 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers condo in Surfside, the study drew intense scrutiny — even though federal investigators and other experts had previously ruled out settling as a factor in the tragedy.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule out
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Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
As the Los Angeles Lakers geared up for their Sunday night matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, the NBA superstar LeBron James was ruled out in advance.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Sometimes, brain imaging or blood tests are needed to rule out another health issue.
—Katherine Cobb-Pitstick, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
In beachfront communities still rattled by the deadly 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers condo in Surfside, the study drew intense scrutiny — even though federal investigators and other experts had previously ruled out settling as a factor in the tragedy.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule out
Cite this Entry
“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20out. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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