ruling

8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for ruling, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — An official decision made by a judge or other authority on a legal or procedural question.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

decision judgment finding opinion

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

decree reigning

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

adjudication regnant

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

An official decision made by a judge or other authority on a legal or procedural question.

“The judge issued a ruling in favor of the defendant.”

decision judgment decree finding adjudication reigning opinion

2. adj

Currently in power or exercising the most control or influence.

“The ruling party promised tax reforms before the election.”

regnant reigning

Opposites

subservient yielding

How to use ruling

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

issue a ruling ruling party court ruling

Etymology

Formed from rule plus the -ing ending.

Full origin of ruling →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ruling” mean?

The word “ruling” means an official decision made by a judge or other authority on a legal or procedural question. In plain terms, an official legal decision, or (as an adjective) currently in charge.

How do you pronounce “ruling”?

“Ruling” is pronounced ROO-lihng (/ˈɹuːlɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “ruling” in a sentence?

Here is “ruling” used in a sentence: “The judge issued a ruling in favor of the defendant.”

What part of speech is “ruling”?

Depending on how it is used, “ruling” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “ruling” a common word?

“Ruling” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “ruling” have?

“Ruling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official decision made by a judge or other authority on a legal or procedural question.

What is the difference between a "ruling" and a "verdict"?

A ruling is an official decision made by a judge on a legal or procedural question, such as whether a piece of evidence is admissible. A verdict is the formal finding on the ultimate issue of a case, typically the decision of a jury on guilt or liability. Judges issue rulings throughout a trial, while a verdict comes at the end.

What is the difference between a "ruling" and a "judgment" in law?

A ruling is a decision on a specific point, motion, or procedural question, while a judgment is the court's final, binding decision that resolves the case as a whole. A single case may involve many rulings but usually ends in one judgment.

What verbs are commonly used with "ruling"?

Judges "hand down," "issue," or "make" a ruling, and a higher court may "uphold," "overturn," or "reverse" it. These collocations all draw on the noun sense of an official legal decision.

People also searched

decision opinion finding judgment decree reigning yielding adjudication regnant subservient

Nearby words

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