ruling

1 of 2

noun

rul·​ing ˈrü-liŋ 

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

ruling

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: exerting power or authority

the ruling party

b

: chief, predominating

a ruling passion

2

: generally prevailing

the ruling prices

Synonyms of ruling

Noun

• sentence
• verdict
• finding
• decision
• judgment
• opinion

Adjective

• prevailing
• general
• public
• overall
• popular
• unanimous
• majority

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 judge determined in a ruling at the time that Lively would be allowed to pursue certain claims of retaliation against Baldoni's public relations team over alleged harm to her reputation. —Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 12 June 2026

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, sharply disputed Lively’s characterization of the ruling, arguing that the court’s prior decisions had substantially undercut many of her original claims. —Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026

Adjective

The groups are a staple of pro-ruling party demonstrations. —ABC News, 14 May 2026

The Thucydides Trap refers to how tensions historically between a rising and ruling power have often resulted in a war. —Evelyn Cheng,kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ruling

• self-ruling

Rhymes for ruling

• cooling
• drooling
• dueling
• duelling
• fooling
• fueling
• fuelling
• gruelling
• pooling
• schooling
• spooling
• tooling

Kids Definition

ruling

noun

rul·​ing

ˈrü-liŋ

: an official decision (as by a judge)

Legal Definition

ruling

noun

rul·​ing

: 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