rule out
verb
ruled out; ruling out; rules out
2
: to make impossible : prevent
heavy rain ruled out the picnic
Synonyms
Examples of rule out in a Sentence
another loss would rule them out of the tournament
Recent Examples on the Web
Rhodes indicated the newspaper is weighing its options, but didn’t rule out a lawsuit.
—
Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Sceptical economists like Diego Giacomini suggest this budget surplus is absolutely unsustainable without underlying reforms which have been ruled out by the level of bellicosity between the Executive, the legislative branch and the provincial governments.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Similar to earlier cases, the virus strain found in Michigan appears to have been introduced by wild birds and transmission between cattle can’t be ruled out, the USDA said.
—Alastair Marsh, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2024
While tornadoes cannot be ruled out, the greatest threat here will be damaging winds.
—Allison Chinchar, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Butler also said that while authorities had no information to suggest additional victims or vehicles slipped into the water amid the bridge collapse, such an outcome could not be ruled out.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Have researchers ruled out any of the five possible worlds?
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
He was added to the injury report after missing Tuesday’s morning shootaround, initially being listed as probable at the start of the day before being downgraded to questionable and then eventually being ruled out a few hours prior to tipoff.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
In interviews with the Journal Sentinel, most Listen to Wisconsin organizers ruled out voting third-party.
—Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024
Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Sceptical economists like Diego Giacomini suggest this budget surplus is absolutely unsustainable without underlying reforms which have been ruled out by the level of bellicosity between the Executive, the legislative branch and the provincial governments.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Similar to earlier cases, the virus strain found in Michigan appears to have been introduced by wild birds and transmission between cattle can’t be ruled out, the USDA said.
—Alastair Marsh, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2024
While tornadoes cannot be ruled out, the greatest threat here will be damaging winds.
—Allison Chinchar, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Butler also said that while authorities had no information to suggest additional victims or vehicles slipped into the water amid the bridge collapse, such an outcome could not be ruled out.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Have researchers ruled out any of the five possible worlds?
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
He was added to the injury report after missing Tuesday’s morning shootaround, initially being listed as probable at the start of the day before being downgraded to questionable and then eventually being ruled out a few hours prior to tipoff.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
In interviews with the Journal Sentinel, most Listen to Wisconsin organizers ruled out voting third-party.
—Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rule out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near rule out
Cite this Entry
“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20out. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
rule out
verb
: to eliminate the possibility of
More from Merriam-Webster on rule out
Nglish: Translation of rule out for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rule out for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share