rule out

verb

ruled out; ruling out; rules out

transitive verb

1
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Investigators are keeping all leads open, but foreign interference has reportedly been largely ruled out in the case. Bonny Chu , Ronn Blitzer, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025 This timeline issue also rules out esteemed actors of a certain age like Ian McKellen, Morgan Freeman, Dick Van Dyke, and Joel Grey. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025 Beccuau on Sunday described it as an organized crime, saying officials hadn't ruled out possible foreign involvement, but also that investigators were treating it as a domestic case at the moment. Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2025 If Cummins is ruled out beyond the series opener, starting on November 21, Australia will need more than one answer in a five-Test series with short gaps and two senior quicks managing workloads. Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rule out

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

Cite this Entry

“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20out. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rule out

verb
: to eliminate the possibility of

More from Merriam-Webster on rule out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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