rule out

verb

ruled out; ruling out; rules out
Synonyms of rule outnext

transitive verb

1
: exclude, eliminate
They were ruled out as candidates for the job.
2
: to make impossible : prevent
Heavy rain ruled out the picnic.

Examples of rule out in a Sentence

another loss would rule them out of the tournament
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Wembanyama, the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, was ruled out of Game 3 on Friday in Portland because of the concussion. Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 Rockets star Kevin Durant, who was ruled out of Game 4 with a left ankle sprain, reacted to the Ayton’s ejection with a move of his own. Dan Woike, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 While Reaves’ absence for Game 4 was hardly unexpected, Houston ruled out leading scorer Kevin Durant for the third time in the best-of-seven series. Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026 While the department can’t rule out changes in reporting, the number of calls about possible abuse or neglect has increased since 2021 and has held relatively steady since 2023. Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rule out

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rule out was circa 1658

Cite this Entry

“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20out. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

rule out

verb
: to eliminate the possibility of

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