rule

[ rool ]

noun

1. a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.:

   the rules of chess.

   Synonyms: order, dictate, decree, regulation, law, guideline, bylaw, standard, precept

2. the code of regulations observed by a religious order or congregation:

   the Franciscan rule.

3. the customary or normal circumstance, occurrence, manner, practice, quality, etc.:

   the rule rather than the exception.

4. control, government, or dominion:

   under the rule of a dictator.

   Synonyms: tyranny, oppression, mastery, domination, regulation, management, government, direction, sway, power, dominion, command, authority

5. tenure or conduct of reign or office:

   during the rule of George III.

6. a prescribed mathematical method for performing a calculation or solving a problem.
7. ruler ( def 2 ).
8. Rule, Astronomy. the constellation Norma.
9. Printing. a thin, type-high strip of metal, for printing a solid or decorative line or lines.
10. Law.
    1. a formal order or direction made by a court, as for governing the procedure of the court general rule or for sending the case before a referee special rule.
    2. a legal principle.
    3. a court order in a particular case.
11. rules, Penology. (formerly)
    1. a fixed area in the neighborhood of certain prisons within which certain prisoners were allowed to live.
    2. the freedom of such an area.
12. Obsolete. behavior.

verb (used with object)

, ruled, rul·ing.

1. to control or direct; exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern:

   to rule the empire with severity.

2. to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively; decree:

   The judge ruled that he should be exiled.

   Synonyms: judge, dictate

3. to mark with lines, especially parallel straight lines, with the aid of a ruler or the like:

   to rule paper.

4. to mark out or form (a line) by this method:

   to rule lines on paper.

5. to be superior or preeminent in (a specific field or group); dominate by superiority; hold sway over:

   For centuries, England ruled the seas.

verb (used without object)

, ruled, rul·ing.

1. to exercise dominating power or influence; predominate.
2. to exercise authority, dominion, or sovereignty.
3. to make a formal decision or ruling, as on a point at law.
4. to be prevalent or current:

   Higher prices ruled throughout France.

verb phrase

1. 1. to prove to be unrelated or not for consideration; eliminate; exclude:

      to rule out the possibility of error.

   2. to make impossible or impracticable:

      The rainstorm ruled out the holiday camping.

rule

/ ruːl /

noun

1. an authoritative regulation or direction concerning method or procedure, as for a court of law, legislative body, game, or other human institution or activity

   judges' rules

   play according to the rules

2. the exercise of governmental authority or control

   the rule of Caesar

3. the period of time in which a monarch or government has power

   his rule lasted 100 days

4. a customary form or procedure; regular course of action

   he made a morning swim his rule

5. the rule
   the common order of things; normal condition

   violence was the rule rather than the exception

6. a prescribed method or procedure for solving a mathematical problem, or one constituting part of a computer program, usually expressed in an appropriate formalism
7. a formal expression of a grammatical regularity in a linguistic description of a language
8. any of various devices with a straight edge for guiding or measuring; ruler

   a carpenter's rule

9. 1. a printed or drawn character in the form of a long thin line
   2. another name for dash 1

      em rule

      en rule

   3. a strip of brass or other metal used to print such a line
10. Christianity a systematic body of prescriptions defining the way of life to be followed by members of a religious order
11. law an order by a court or judge
12. as a rule
    normally or ordinarily

verb

1. to exercise governing or controlling authority over (a people, political unit, individual, etc)

   he ruled for 20 years

   his passion for her ruled his life

2. when tr, often takes a clause as object to decide authoritatively; decree

   the chairman ruled against the proposal

3. tr to mark with straight parallel lines or make one straight line, as with a ruler

   to rule a margin

4. tr to restrain or control

   to rule one's temper

5. intr to be customary or prevalent

   chaos rules in this school

6. intr to be pre-eminent or superior

   football rules in the field of sport

7. tr astrology (of a planet) to have a strong affinity with certain human attributes, activities, etc, associated with (one or sometimes two signs of the zodiac)

   Mars rules Aries

8. rule the roost or rule the roast
   to be pre-eminent; be in charge

Derived Forms

• ˈrulable, adjective

Other Words From

• inter·rule verb (used with object) interruled interruling
• self-rule noun
• subrule noun
• under·rule noun
• under·rule verb underruled underruling
• un·ruled adjective
• well-ruled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rule¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; (noun) Middle English riule, reule, from Old French riule, from Latin rēgula “straight stick, pattern” ( regula ); (verb) Middle English riwlen, reulen, rewellen, from Old French riuler, rieuler, ruler, from Late Latin rēgulāre, derivative of rēgula

Word History and Origins

Origin of rule¹

C13: from Old French riule , from Latin rēgula a straight edge; see regulate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as a rule, generally; usually:

   He arrives at eleven o'clock, as a rule.

2. rule the roost. roost ( def 7 ).

More idioms and phrases containing rule

• as a rule
• exception proves the rule
• ground rules

Synonym Study

See principle. Rule, administer, command, govern, manage mean to exercise authoritative guidance or direction. Rule implies the exercise of authority as by a sovereign: to rule a kingdom. Administer places emphasis on the planned and orderly procedures used: to administer the finances of an institution. Command suggests military authority and the power to exact obedience; to be in command of: to command a ship. To govern is authoritatively to guide or direct persons or things, especially in the affairs of a large administrative unit: to govern a state. To manage is to conduct affairs, i.e., to guide them in a unified way toward a definite goal, or to direct or control people, often by tact, address, or artifice: to manage a business.

Example Sentences

The High Court in London saw both sides return, asking a judge to rule on preliminary issues before the trial in 2025.

From BBC

A federal judge in Georgia temporarily blocked the rules two days after the lawsuit was filed.

From Los Angeles Times

It's their first big reminder that, as much as Trump brags about his non-existent powers at "deal-making," his only true theory of power is to rule through fear.

From Salon

"I think it is one of the rules of the authoritarian government, to arrest, to detain the people who have the power to impact opinion," Mr Ibadoglu told the BBC in an interview this week.

From BBC

“This is not a simple problem of enforcing our rules. We need to take stock and do everything in our power to restore our campuses to safe and sane places.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administration
• authority
• control
• domination
• government
• power
• regime
• reign
• sovereignty