Verb: rule out
- Make impossible, especially beforehand
"His criminal record ruled out a career in law enforcement";
- preclude, close out
- Dismiss from consideration or a contest
"John was ruled out as a possible suspect because he had a strong alibi";
- eliminate, winnow out, reject
- Exclude by determining judicially or in agreement with rules
"The judge ruled out the new evidence"
Derived forms: rules out, ruling out, ruled out
Type of: brush aside, brush off [informal], decree, discount, dismiss, disregard, eliminate, ignore, obviate, push aside, rid of, rule