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

Since November, the page has claimed that studies haven’t ruled out a link between childhood vaccines and autism, ignoring decades of research that shows no association. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026

Legislative leaders explicitly ruled out any discussion about skyrocketing energy costs and an economic crisis leaving our state with the second-worst economy in the nation, per CNBC. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026

Michigan officials said on July 13 that testing pointed to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source, though other foods hadn't been ruled out. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

But alongside it, a systematic biopsy is performed, too, to rule out the risk of further malignancy in other areas of the prostate. — Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 5 Aug. 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