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to rule

to rule

309 1.0
To be the leader of a country or group and control it
  • verb
  • /ruːl/
: gobernar
  • The queen has long been known to rule with a firm hand over her kingdom.
  • rule the country
  • government rules
  • rule the people

And he says each person rules within their domain.

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Examples

  • Occasionally, indigenous women could also be found ruling in other areas of the colonial Andes.

    Academic text (1999)
  • In his everyday life, man rules over machine.

  • let me write the music and I will rule your country.

  • It's because he wants to rule the world.

  • Who knows who will end up ruling this ocean planet?

  • We shall rule because it's our glorious destiny to rule.

  • By combining our genius, we can rule humanity.

  • In the north, the Starks ruled from their castle at Winterfell.

  • Do you choose to govern yourselves or be ruled by those who still crave the name of 'master'?

    Academic text (2017)
  • At the time, both Jordan and Iraq were constitutional monarchies ruled by members of the Hashemite family.

    Academic text (2013)

Synonyms

to control
vsto rule
∞ 2.4

To have power over people, things, or situations

is focused on authority over countries or organizations rather than general power
to govern
vsto rule
185 2.9

To rule a country using law or force

is broader and can mean any authority, not only formal legal power
to rule over
vsto rule
24 4.2

To be in charge of people or a place

is the general act of holding authority over countries or organizations
to reign
vsto rule
20 4.6

To rule a country as king or queen

is general authority over people or groups, not limited to monarchs

Antonyms

113 3.7

To refuse to follow rules or orders from someone in charge

26 4.9

Rise up against a government or ruler

Idioms

39 2.8

Usually in most cases

4 6.3

To be in control of a group and make important decisions

to work to rule
  • Literature
1 7.5

Follow rules exactly to make tasks slower as a protest

Phrasal Verbs

183 3.5

Decide that an idea, cause or option should not be considered

Do what a rule says

24 4.2

To be in charge of people or a place

12 6.5

Decide to include something as a possible option

7 5.3

Decide that one person or group should win a legal case

To be in charge of a school and its activities

Compounds

rule of law
  • Formal
99 3.7

All people and organizations, including officials, must follow the same fair laws

48 3.1

A basic agreement made at the start to guide how people act

rule of thumb
  • Informal
34 3.8

A simple practical way to do or decide things from experience that is not exact

33 7.9

A guide that tells military and other people when they can start fighting and what they may do

26 2.7

A book that lists the rules for a group or activity

26 3.4

An order people must follow exactly, often with punishment if ignored

15 3.3

A basic idea people always follow in a particular job or activity

13 3.6

Decisions made by most people in a group

9 3.7

Treat other people as you want them to treat you

8 5.8

Government by a country's own people instead of by a foreign power

A fixed instruction you cannot change or adapt

7 8.4

A law about what information can be used as proof in a court case

gag rule
  • Formal
6 8.6

A rule that stops people in a committee or parliament from talking about a topic

5 4.2

A simple rule used at work that is not perfect but works in practice

slide rule
  • Archaic
5 8.5

A long thin tool with sliding scales that people use to do quick math before calculators

home rule
  • Formal
5 6.2

The right of a city or county to run its own local matters without central government control

3 8.6

A rule that stops illegally found evidence from being used in a criminal trial

A person who always obeys instructions and people in charge

hearsay rule
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A rule that stops statements made outside court from being used as evidence

A guide about how to form sentences and use words correctly

1 8.2

A government where one person has all power and others cannot oppose them

grammatical rule
  • Specialized
1 3.3

A rule about how to make sentences and phrases correctly

1 7.8

A clear rule that tells people exactly what to do

Miranda rule
  • Formal
1 6.2

Police must tell someone arrested they can stay silent, have a lawyer, and anything said can be used in court

1 9.0

A rule that requires showing the original document, photo, or recording in court to prove its content

A simple practical way to decide what to do from experience to solve problems faster

Very complicated rules that are hard to follow or understand

1 9.9

A rule that stops people using spoken words to change a written contract in court

linguistic rule
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A guideline that tells how people use words and sentences

algorithmic rule
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A clear step-by-step rule for solving a problem using math or a computer

morphological rule
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A way to show how words are made from small parts like un- and -ness

1 2.5

To treat other people the way you want them to treat you

A flexible tool like a ruler with length marks used to measure and draw straight lines

Vegas rule
  • Informal
1 8.7

An informal rule that people do not tell others about things that happen on a trip

work to rule
  • Literature
1 7.2

A protest where employees slow down by doing only required tasks

1 2.0

A ruler one foot long used to measure length

board rule
  • Specialized
7.9

A tool for measuring lumber to find board feet

9.9

An informal guideline that picture parts should not extend above a diagonal from left to right

Naegele's rule
  • Specialized
8.4

A way to find a baby's due date by using the first day of the last period

9.9

A strict rule applied the same to everyone that ignores personal differences

rule of morphology
  • Specialized
7.4

A way that shows how words are made and changed in a language

9.9

A court changes a gift meant for a charity so the giver's main wish still happens

plumb rule
  • Specialized
7.9

A straight narrow board with a hanging weight used to check if a wall is perfectly vertical

two-second rule
  • Informal
5.3

A belief that food dropped on the floor for less than two seconds is still safe to eat

How Powerful

to tyrannize
  • US
2 8.4
to dominate
189 3.7
to rule
309 1.0
to manage
199 2.3

Surface Forms

rule infinitive
ruled past
ruled past participle
ruling present participle
rules third person singular

Etymology

Rule (to govern) comes from the Latin regere ('to lead'), the same idea behind the noun for power. To rule is to lead or have authority over people, just like a leader who keeps things straight.