ruling

noun

rul·ing | \ ˈrü-liŋ

Definition of ruling

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an official or authoritative decision, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a point of law)

ruling

adjective

Definition of ruling (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : exerting power or authority the ruling party

b : chief, predominating a ruling passion

2 : generally prevailing

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about ruling

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for ruling

Synonyms: Noun

finding, holding, judgment (or judgement), sentence

Synonyms: Adjective

common, general, majority, overall, popular, prevailing, public, received, vulgar

Antonyms: Adjective

uncommon, unpopular

Examples of ruling in a Sentence

Noun

The decision overturns the Supreme Court's earlier ruling. She disputed the referee's ruling.

Adjective

members of the ruling class the ruling opinion on premarital sex

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The state Supreme Court last month cleared the way for the program to begin, reversing a lower judge’s ruling that the licensing process was flawed and violated the constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana. — Washington Post, "Conservative states balk at voter-approved medical marijuana," 13 July 2018 More pressing for the teachers unions, the ruling jeopardizes a funding stream that has made them political heavyweights for decades. — Erica L. Green, BostonGlobe.com, "Teachers unions hustle to ensure their survival after Janus decision," 14 July 2018 To date, the government has reunited about 600 minors, including more than 50 toddlers under the first deadline from the judge's ruling. — Rafael Carranza, azcentral, "Rights group claims family separations continue at border, despite Trump's executive order," 13 July 2018 For that reason, the ruling from the federal court about the Wisconsin law should not stop Florida’s union from successfully challenging the new state law as violating the Florida Constitution, Meyer said. — Leslie Postal, OrlandoSentinel.com, "New teachers union rules spark debate — and more dues-paying members," 12 July 2018 Ongoing community squabble The DPI ruling is the latest turn in an ongoing community squabble that appears to have begun with a controversial school referendum in 2013. — Annysa Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A Northwoods Wisconsin school board member started asking questions. Then things got ugly," 11 July 2018 The Missouri Democratic Party did not immediately comment on the ruling. — Bryan Lowry, kansascity, "Judge throws out lawsuit seeking to block Parson from appointing lieutenant governor," 11 July 2018 In more recent cases, on issues ranging from partisan gerrymandering to affirmative action, the Court under his leadership has managed to produce rulings that avoided the most far-reaching claims made by the contending parties. — Jeffrey Rosen, WSJ, "What We Learn from Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings," 13 July 2018 Even some of Trump’s key constituencies would let the ruling stand, including 59 percent of white men, 50 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of Trump voters, and 48 percent of conservatives. — Dana Blanton, Fox News, "Fox News Poll: Jury's out on Kavanaugh, voters want Senate vote before midterms," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Photo: Reuters The operation’s success provides a lift for a ruling military junta that has long been criticized for repeatedly putting off elections following a 2014 coup. — Phred Dvorak, WSJ, "All 12 Boys and Their Soccer Coach Rescued From Thai Cave," 10 July 2018 The ruling Baath party claims to represent all of Syria’s religions and sects. — The Economist, "How a victorious Bashar al-Assad is changing Syria," 28 June 2018 As prices soared and gas lines stretched, Brazilians united in a shared hatred of the ruling political class. — Marina Lopes, Washington Post, "Brazilian leader bows to truckers' demands but strike continues to cause chaos," 28 May 2018 Charismatic and fiery, Pashinyan had convinced some lawmakers from the ruling Republican Party to cross party lines and vote for him — something unthinkable just a short while ago. — Washington Post, "Armenia’s opposition leader named prime minister, and his supporters erupt in cheers," 12 May 2018 Charismatic and fiery, Pashinyan had convinced some lawmakers from the ruling Republican Party to cross party lines and vote for him — something unthinkable just a short while ago. — Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, "Armenian Parliament elects opposition leader as prime minister," 8 May 2018 Charismatic and fiery, Pashinyan had convinced some lawmakers from the ruling Republican Party to cross party lines and vote for him — something unthinkable just a short while ago. — Washington Post, "Armenian parliament elects opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister," 8 May 2018 Armenians widely blamed Sargsyan and his ruling Republican Party for keeping the country as the Caucasus region's poorest through corruption and incompetence. — Fox News, "New hope: Armenia's young celebrate political changes," 7 May 2018 The ruling Republican Party agreed to meet the opposition’s final demands: Pashinyan’s path to the premiership would not be obstructed. — Matthew Bodner, The New Republic, "Armenia Is Breaking the Post-Soviet Mold," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ruling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about ruling

Dictionary Entries near ruling

rule the roost

rule with an iron fist/hand

rule with a rod of iron

Statistics for ruling

Last Updated

13 Sep 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for ruling

The first known use of ruling was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for ruling

ruling

noun

English Language Learners Definition of ruling

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an official decision made by a judge, referee, etc.

ruling

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of ruling (Entry 2 of 2)

: having control and power over a country, area, group, etc.

See the full definition for ruling in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ruling

noun

rul·ing | \ ˈrü-liŋ \

Kids Definition of ruling

: an official decision (as by a judge)

ruling

noun

rul·ing

Legal Definition of ruling

: an official or authoritative determination, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a question of law) followed a previous ruling on the same question — see also revenue ruling — compare decision, disposition, finding, holding, judgment, opinion, verdict