as in rules
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity
before the debate begins, let's lay out some ground rules
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Recent Examples of ground rules
This may mean changing your mindset; this may mean family therapy; this may mean taking a firmer stance on ground rules for respect in the home, in conjunction with your husband.
—
R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
You’re allowed to set ground rules for all connections — even friendships.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Students created Instagram accounts with posts to share walking routes, protest times, last-minute changes and ground rules for the demonstrations, such as a prohibition on violence.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
This could be because the leader themselves is emotionally reactive and people are just parroting what is modeled, or because there are no ground rules for conversations and no consequences given for lashing out.
—Blair Glaser, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Instead, White suggests talking about things in advance and setting some ground rules.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Many of these groups, including Nallen Copley’s, have strict ground rules against pitching products and deals and gatekeep against vendors or brokers.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Are Hal and Kate planning to assess and adjust their expectations and ground rules at the six-month or one-year mark?
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Factionalism, doctrine, ground rules, justifications are, in Anderson’s film, irrelevant, meaning that French 75’s actions take place in an intellectual void.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
You’re allowed to set ground rules for all connections — even friendships.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Students created Instagram accounts with posts to share walking routes, protest times, last-minute changes and ground rules for the demonstrations, such as a prohibition on violence.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
This could be because the leader themselves is emotionally reactive and people are just parroting what is modeled, or because there are no ground rules for conversations and no consequences given for lashing out.
—Blair Glaser, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Instead, White suggests talking about things in advance and setting some ground rules.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Many of these groups, including Nallen Copley’s, have strict ground rules against pitching products and deals and gatekeep against vendors or brokers.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Are Hal and Kate planning to assess and adjust their expectations and ground rules at the six-month or one-year mark?
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Factionalism, doctrine, ground rules, justifications are, in Anderson’s film, irrelevant, meaning that French 75’s actions take place in an intellectual void.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground rules
Noun
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The race could revive a pandemic-era rivalry between Kiley and Pan, who tussled over vaccine and public health rules while serving in the state Legislature.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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The gap helps explain why authorities are tightening FX rules even as exporters press for more predictable conversion mechanics.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After some discussion on whether to add more regulations to self-checkout stations as the other cities have done, including a minimum on staff numbers, the council voted 5-2 this week, March 3, to at least further explore the idea.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
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However, that law wouldn’t go into effect unless Washington state enacts similar regulations.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Nessel's office alleges that Kalshi has circumvented Michigan's gambling laws by offering users to trade contracts based on whether specific events will happen, acting and operating like a gambling platform and should be subject to the same state laws that other online gaming apps are.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Australia has strong laws around foreign interference and national security, and those protections should apply here.—
Christina Macfarlane,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Address Fire Code Compliance Concerns Fire safety codes often require monitoring when alarm or sprinkler systems are not working.—
Matthew Kayser,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Quotas, speech codes and identity politics now mocked as woke and un-American, often defied common sense.—
Maurice O'Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ground rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20rules. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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