ground rules

noun

plural of ground rule
as in rules
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity before the debate begins, let's lay out some ground rules

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ground rules The White House and its allies are lonely in their insistence that AI development in America must accelerate without governments setting ground rules. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, did not elaborate. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 Capital investment aside, even fundamental ground rules collapse under strain, Archer said. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026 Representatives of Bonta and Paramount Skydance came together late last week to set ground rules for Monday’s meeting, which was to involve Paramount Skydance Chief Executive David Ellison. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 Resident Nancy Clifton-Hawkins was an amazing moderator who quickly laid out the goals and ground rules. — Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2026 Consider the 2012 General Agreement in Colombia, which established guidelines for future negotiations, an agenda, and ground rules that gave the talks structure and stability. — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 To control the dangerous unfettered use of magic, an oversight council established ground rules on what is considered forbidden magic and the knowledge of its existence. — Kalai Chik, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 New York state set a one-year pause on building AI data centers to establish some ground rules. — Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground rules
  1. rules
  2. regulations
  3. laws
  4. codes
Noun
  • Conflict-of-interest rules may bar some workers and their families from holding certain stocks; the Treasury has moved to ban ESG funds from accounts, but there’s no way for people to keep certain stocks out of their kids’ accounts.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • House Democrats are considering rules changes to mandate dues payments to serve on committees like Appropriations and Financial Services.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of rules
Noun
  • The subtext of much of the industry’s palaver about the need for new regulations is that AI is so new-fangled that the old rules don’t apply.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The second began in 2010, when heroin, made cheaper by more efficient distribution, flooded the illicit market just as federal authorities began to tighten regulations on prescription opioids.
    — Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of regulations
Noun
  • Representatives Lori Trahan and Jay Obernolte have advanced the FRONTIER Act, which would authorize government intervention against risky models and override some state laws.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The company notes that schedules may change because of local laws or other requirements.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of laws
Noun
  • Spring 2027 will offer complete looks of how Walsh interprets Rebecca Taylor’s codes for a new generation.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As private longing collides with honor and social codes, each character has to reckon with what their choices cost.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of codes

Browse Nearby Words

ground rule
ground rules
grounds
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Cite this Entry

“Ground rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20rules. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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