RULE

(DECIDE) [verb] - to decide officiallyOnly the Appeal Court can rule on this point. [I]The judge ruled for/in favour of/against the defendant. [I]The government has ruled that the refugees must be deported. [+ that clause]The courts have ruled his brave action illegal. [T + object + noun or adjective]See also overrule.The police haven't yet ruled out (= stopped considering the possibility of) murder.I won't rule out (= state the impossibility of) a June election.This recent wave of terrorism has ruled out (= prevented) any chance/possibility of peace talks. [M]