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
There are a few ground rules to follow when assembling your bulb lasagna in order to get good results.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 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
No ground rules needed to be set before cameras began to roll.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Publishing income sharing agreements exist among major acts in the music business, and platinum-level acts such as U2 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers built their careers by establishing royalty-sharing ground rules at an early stage, thereby avoiding costly litigation and personal conflict later on.
—Mike Alleyne, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
After reports that Prince Harry had his own list of requests to go on with the reconciliation, there are now rumors that King Charles has his own ground rules, too, for the upcoming meeting.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Sep. 2025
Despite going no-contact, the woman finally approached her mother-in-law about establishing some ground rules in order to move forward.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
That’s why new parents should set some grandparenting ground rules as soon as possible to avoid nasty arguments and frayed relationships down the road, according to bestselling author and parenting expert Esther Wojcicki.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
There won’t be a bottom until Americans resurrect some ground rules and enforce them against any violators (even on their own side).
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 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
No ground rules needed to be set before cameras began to roll.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Publishing income sharing agreements exist among major acts in the music business, and platinum-level acts such as U2 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers built their careers by establishing royalty-sharing ground rules at an early stage, thereby avoiding costly litigation and personal conflict later on.
—Mike Alleyne, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
After reports that Prince Harry had his own list of requests to go on with the reconciliation, there are now rumors that King Charles has his own ground rules, too, for the upcoming meeting.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Sep. 2025
Despite going no-contact, the woman finally approached her mother-in-law about establishing some ground rules in order to move forward.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
That’s why new parents should set some grandparenting ground rules as soon as possible to avoid nasty arguments and frayed relationships down the road, according to bestselling author and parenting expert Esther Wojcicki.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
There won’t be a bottom until Americans resurrect some ground rules and enforce them against any violators (even on their own side).
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground rules
Noun
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Suarez is now the subject of a state ethics complaint, filed last month by a Miami Beach resident, claiming that his communications violate campaign finance rules.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
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There is also no indication that the change is being done in coordination with the MPA, rather this is about framing the content rules for users.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When in doubt, check local laws and regulations.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
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Some experts, meanwhile, say that instead of demanding that insurers sell their stake in fossil fuel companies, advocates and policymakers should focus on modernizing regulations to persuade insurers to expand coverage in fire-prone areas.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When in doubt, check local laws and regulations.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
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Why the administration wants access to the voter rolls, which laws say are to be controlled and maintained by each state, is not entirely clear.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bigelow has often been accused of being apolitical—or, because of her fascination with the codes, rites, and aesthetics of men at war, of advancing a gung-ho fetishization of American militarism.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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Other tech-savvy patients were innovating in similar ways, creating computer codes and programs to automate insulin delivery and ease their own burden.—
Carrie Arnold,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ground rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20rules. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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