rule
Pluralrules
Pluralrules
- 1A statement that tells you what you must or must not do.
Like the signs in a game that tell you what you can and can't do.
The teacher explained the new rule about phones in class.
Players who break the rules have to sit out for a turn.
UsageYou follow the rules or break the rules.
Similarregulation, law, guideline, directive, requirement
- 2To be in charge of a country or group and make decisions for it.
Like a captain who steers the whole ship and decides where it goes.
The young prince was trained from childhood to rule the kingdom one day.
The queen ruled the islands for thirty years.
UsageA king rules a country or rules over people.
Similargovern, control, lead, command, administer
- 3To make an official decision, often in a court of law.
Like a referee who makes the final call after looking at the replay.
The judge will rule on the case tomorrow.
The court ruled in her favor.
UsageCourts rule on cases, or rule that something is legal.
Similarhold
Note
- 4An idea or method that says how something works or how to do something.
Like a compass that keeps pointing you in the right direction.
Treating others the way you want to be treated is a good rule to live by.
The basic rule is to add an s to make most nouns plural.
UsageA rule of thumb is a simple, rough guide.
- 5The power to control a country or group of people.
Like a captain steering a whole ship and crew.
The country enjoyed peace under her rule.
Roman rule lasted for centuries in the region.
UsageSay a country is under someone's rule.
Similarreign, government, control, authority, dominion
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Less common meanings
- 10To draw straight lines on paper, often as a guide for writing.
Like drawing lines with a ruler to keep your writing straight.
She ruled the page before starting her essay.
Please rule the paper so the columns line up.
UsageRuled paper has lines for writing on.
Similarline
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- 11A straight line drawn on paper to help keep writing neat.
Like the faint lines in a school notebook that guide your handwriting.
A thin rule under the heading keeps the page neat.
The notebook pages have faint blue rules to guide your writing.
Similarline
- 12A flat strip of wood, metal, or plastic used to measure or draw straight lines.
Like a ruler in your pencil case, but used by builders and carpenters.
She measured the shelf with a metal rule.
Carpenters keep a folding rule in their toolbox.
UsageMost people say ruler.
Similarruler, straightedge
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- 13To make something fixed or settled by a rule or by what people usually do.
That's a ruled case with the school-men.
1687, Francis Atterbury, An Answer to Some Considerations on the Spirit of Martin Luther and the Original of the ReformationHere, ruled means settled by general agreement, so the case is decided.Similarsettle, determine, fix, regulate, establish
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- 14A thin metal strip used in old printing to make straight lines on a page.
Like a thin metal ruler that stamps a line onto the paper.
The printer set a rule between the two columns of text.
A brass rule made the line that divided the page in half.
Note
- 15The way a person behaves or acts toward others.
This uncivil rule; she shall know of it.
c. 1601, William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”Here, rule means behavior, so this is rude conduct.Note
- 16To celebrate in a wild, noisy way.
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- 17Wild, noisy fun and celebration.
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Showing meanings only.
More uses
- rule outto decide that something is not possible
Practice
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Origins
It comes from Latin regula, meaning a straight stick or ruler, from a word meaning to keep straight or govern. It reached English through Old French.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Rule derives from Latin regula, meaning a straight stick or ruler. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin regula derives from a word meaning to keep straight or govern. en.wiktionary.org
- The word reached English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org
It comes from Latin regulare, meaning to regulate or rule, from regula ("a rule"). It reached English through Old French.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The verb rule comes from Latin regulare, meaning to regulate or rule. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin regulare derives from regula, meaning a rule. en.wiktionary.org
- It reached English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org
This old meaning is linked to the word revel, not to the rule that means a law.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The obsolete sense of rule meaning revelry is related to revel. en.wiktionary.org
- This sense has a separate etymology from rule meaning a law. en.wiktionary.org