A2 noun Neutral #329 most common

rule

/ruːl/

An official instruction or principle that tells you what is allowed and what is not allowed in a specific situation, game, or organization. Rules help maintain order and ensure that everyone behaves in a fair or expected way.

Examples

3 of 5
1

Don't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.

Don't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.

2

The committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.

The committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.

3

In our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.

In our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.

Word Family

Noun
rule
Verb
rule
Adjective
ruling
Related
ruler
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Memory Tip

Think of a 'Ruler' (the measuring tool). A ruler keeps lines straight; a 'Rule' keeps your behavior straight.

Quick Quiz

If you want to win the game, you must follow the ____.

Correct!

The correct answer is: rules

Examples

1

Don't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.

everyday

Don't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.

2

The committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.

formal

The committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.

3

In our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.

informal

In our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.

4

The grammatical rule states that every sentence must have a subject and a verb.

academic

The grammatical rule states that every sentence must have a subject and a verb.

5

Company rules require all employees to wear an ID badge at all times.

business

Company rules require all employees to wear an ID badge at all times.

Word Family

Noun
rule
Verb
rule
Adjective
ruling
Related
ruler

Common Collocations

follow a rule to obey a rule
break a rule to do something that is not allowed by a rule
against the rules not permitted according to the established rules
strict rules rules that must be obeyed exactly
set a rule to create or establish a new rule

Common Phrases

as a rule

usually; in most cases

rule of thumb

a practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something

bend the rules

to allow someone to do something that is usually not allowed

Often Confused With

rule vs law

A law is an official rule made by the government for a whole country, while a rule can be made by any group like a school or a family.

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Usage Notes

The word is most frequently used in the plural ('rules') when referring to the collective instructions for a game or a social environment. It can also be used as a verb meaning to govern or control.

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Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'law' when they should use 'rule' for minor settings like a classroom. They also occasionally confuse the tool 'ruler' with the concept 'rule'.

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Memory Tip

Think of a 'Ruler' (the measuring tool). A ruler keeps lines straight; a 'Rule' keeps your behavior straight.

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Word Origin

Derived from the Old French word 'riule', which came from the Latin 'regula' meaning a 'straight stick' or 'pattern'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: one rule, two rules Often used with the preposition 'against': 'It is against the rules.' Often follows verbs like 'obey', 'follow', or 'break'.
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Cultural Context

Different cultures have various 'unwritten rules' regarding social politeness and personal space that are expected to be followed even if they are not written down.

Quick Quiz

If you want to win the game, you must follow the ____.

Correct!

The correct answer is: rules

Related Words

arbiter

B2

An arbiter is a person or authority who has the power to settle a dispute or decide what is right, acceptable, or fashionable. It can refer to a formal legal role or a metaphorical judge of cultural and social standards.

arbitrarily

C2

To act in a way that is based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system. It often implies a decision-making process that is perceived as unfair or lacking logical justification.

arbitrariness

C1

The quality of being based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason, system, or logical necessity. It often describes decisions, rules, or actions that appear unfair or unpredictable because they lack a clear underlying principle.

arbitrator

C2

A neutral third party officially appointed to settle a dispute between two conflicting parties outside of a court of law. Their role is to hear evidence from both sides and issue a final, typically legally binding, decision known as an award.

arboreal

B2

Arboreal describes animals that live in trees or things relating to trees. It is most commonly used in biological contexts to distinguish tree-dwelling species from those that live on the ground or in water.

appreciate

B2

To recognize the full worth or quality of something, or to be grateful for a gesture or action. It can also mean to understand a situation fully or to increase in value over time.

approbate

C1

To formally or officially sanction, approve, or authorize an action, document, or status. It is typically used in legal, ecclesiastical, or high-level administrative contexts to indicate authoritative validation.

approve

C1

Officially sanctioned or accepted as being of an adequate standard or satisfying certain requirements. It describes something that has received formal authorization or endorsement from a person or body in authority.

apropos

B2

Something that is apropos is very appropriate or relevant to a particular situation or subject being discussed. It describes a remark, action, or timing that fits perfectly with the current circumstances.

arboretum

C1

A botanical garden specifically devoted to the cultivation and exhibition of a wide variety of trees and shrubs for scientific or educational purposes. It serves as a living collection of woody plants, often featuring rare or non-native species.

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