: an official or authoritative decision, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a point of law)
1
a
: exerting power or authority
the ruling party
b
: chief, predominating
a ruling passion
2
: generally prevailing
the ruling prices
Synonyms of ruling
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
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
The panel’s opinion overturned Sjostrom’s ruling on the inactive voters and upheld his ruling on the petitions gathered by non-residents — with the net effect of allowing both directives to invalidate signatures.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Machado recounted a teacher who convinced her local ruling-party captain to support the opposition after her son, living in Peru, urged her to vote for change.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruling
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.
Noun
The ruling comes amid sustained protests in Minneapolis following two fatal encounters involving federal agents.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
The panel’s opinion overturned Sjostrom’s ruling on the inactive voters and upheld his ruling on the petitions gathered by non-residents — with the net effect of allowing both directives to invalidate signatures.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
This vibe continues to be brought to you courtesy of your co-ruling planet, rebellious Uranus, moving into your fifth house of self-expression on April 25, empowering you to lean fully into your penchant for unconventionality and incorporating the element of surprise in your personal style.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Machado recounted a teacher who convinced her local ruling-party captain to support the opposition after her son, living in Peru, urged her to vote for change.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruling. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
