Word
rules
Phoneticsrules
US/ˈɹuɫz/
UK/ɹˈuːlz/
Definitions
01instructions or laws
A1 · Beginner Plural noun
n. the instructions you must follow in a game, a job, or a country.
n. the set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a particular activity or sphere.
“Make sure you read the rules of the board game before we start playing.”
“The new safety rules were implemented across the factory to reduce the number of accidents during the night shift.”
Pitfall
You must follow the rule of the game.
You must follow the rules of the game.
When referring to the complete set of instructions for a game or sport, use the plural 'rules'.
Synonyms
02to govern
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.
“The king rules the land with a fair but firm hand.”
“History shows that when a single party rules without opposition for decades, institutional corruption often becomes difficult to root out.”
03to be excellent
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal · Slang
v. to be the best or to be very cool.
v. to be preeminent or excellent; used to express strong approval of a person, thing, or situation.
“This new pizza place in town absolutely rules.”
“While some critics disliked the sequel, most fans agreed that the soundtrack rules and carries the entire film.”
Antonyms
04Australian football
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Sports Informal · Dialect
n. a short name for Australian rules football.
n. a reference to Australian rules football, a contact sport played between two teams of eighteen players.
“He grew up in Melbourne, so he has played rules since he was a kid.”
“The local community centre organises weekly rules matches, drawing significant crowds from the surrounding suburbs every Saturday afternoon.”
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/rules