rule out
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
to say something cannot be true or cannot happen
Literal meaning: to make a rule that something is outside
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
neutral
to decide that something is not possible or cannot be true
"The tests ruled out a serious infection."
"I wouldn't rule anything out."
— Donald Trump, interview with The New York Times, 2017
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
to prevent something from happening or being considered
"The cost rules out a family holiday this summer."
"Military action cannot be ruled out."
— Common news quotation used by officials and headlines; exact source not reliably recalled
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Very common in everyday English, medicine, police work, and planning. Often used with possibilities, causes, options, and candidates.
Commonly used with
possibility option cause diagnosis candidate idea
Forms
Base
rule out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rules out
he/she/it
Past simple
ruled out
yesterday
Past participle
ruled out
have + pp
-ing form
ruling out
continuous
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Synonyms
exclude eliminate dismiss reject make impossible discount
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