rule out
verb
ruled out; ruling out; rules out
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
Before the cup final, Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon were ruled out, robbing Howe of his first-choice left-side.
—
George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Since howlers and capuchins have different diets, the researchers ruled out competition for food.
—Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
Pregnancy tests help rule out this potentially life-threatening condition.12
Imaging Tests
The following imaging tests take pictures of the appendix and surrounding areas to help diagnose and stage appendicitis:13
Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 17 May 2025
This is a sweeping, undefined provision that could rule out any changes to local growth guidelines in Florida unless developers agree and sponsor the change.
—Paul Owens, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule out
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George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Since howlers and capuchins have different diets, the researchers ruled out competition for food.
—Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
Pregnancy tests help rule out this potentially life-threatening condition.12
Imaging Tests
The following imaging tests take pictures of the appendix and surrounding areas to help diagnose and stage appendicitis:13
Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 17 May 2025
This is a sweeping, undefined provision that could rule out any changes to local growth guidelines in Florida unless developers agree and sponsor the change.
—Paul Owens, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule out
Cite this Entry
“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20out. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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