rule
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the power or period of time that a person or group controls a country.
n.the exercise of authority or control over a people or territory; the period during which a particular person or group is in power.
Simple“The country flourished under the rule of the new president.”
In context“Historians often debate the economic stability of the region during the long period of colonial rule.”
Usageoften used in the pattern 'under the rule of'
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a flat, straight tool used for measuring length or drawing straight lines.
n.a straight-edged strip of wood, plastic, or metal used for measuring or as a guide for drawing lines.
Simple“He used a steel rule to measure the wooden board exactly.”
In context“The carpenter checked the alignment with a folding rule before securing the final joint of the cabinet.”
Synonymsrulerstraightedge - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the thing that usually happens or the way things normally are.
n.a normal or customary state of affairs; the standard condition.
Simple“As a rule, we don't allow pets in the office.”
In context“While exceptions are occasionally made for emergencies, punctuality is the rule in this department.”
Usagecommonly used in the phrase 'as a rule'
- 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to have official power over a country or a group of people.
v.to exercise ultimate power or authority over an area and its inhabitants.
Simple“The queen ruled the island nation for over fifty years.”
In context“The dynasty ruled the empire for three centuries before the revolution fundamentally altered the political landscape.”
Usagetakes a direct object representing the place or people governed
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to give an official or legal decision about something.
v.to deliver an authoritative or judicial verdict on a specific matter.
Simple“The judge ruled that the evidence was not strong enough.”
In context“The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the plaintiff, establishing a significant precedent for future privacy cases.”
Usageoften followed by 'that' or 'in favour of'
- 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to be very good or the best.
v.to be preeminent or excellent; used to express strong approval.
Simple“This new pizza place totally rules.”
In context“The crowd started chanting the band's name, shouting that their latest album absolutely ruled.”
Usageintransitive; usually used in the present tense
- 07 C1 Advanced
v.to draw straight lines on paper using a tool.
v.to mark paper or another surface with straight parallel lines.
Simple“She ruled the page with a pencil before she started writing.”
In context“The ledger was carefully ruled with red ink to separate the different columns of financial data.”
Usageoften used in the passive voice to describe paper
Usage rule change · rule of law · rule changes
From Middle English reule, rewle, rule, borrowed from Old French riule, reule, from Latin regula (“straight stick, bar, ruler, pattern”), from regō (“to keep straight, direct, govern, rule”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃réǵeti (“to straighten; right”), from the root h₃reǵ-; see regent. Doublet of rail, regal, regula, and rigol.
From Middle English reulen, rulen, borrowed from Old French riuler, from Latin regulāre (“to regulate, rule”), from regula (“a rule”); see regular and regulate.
Related to revel.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.