rating

noun

rat·​ing ˈrā-tiŋ How to pronounce rating (audio)
Synonyms of ratingnext
1
: a classification according to grade
specifically : a military or naval specialist classification
2
chiefly British : an enlisted sailor
3
a
: relative estimate or evaluation : standing
the school has a good academic rating
b
: an estimate of an individual's or business's credit and responsibility
c
: an estimate of the percentage of the public listening to or viewing a particular radio or television program
4
: a stated operating limit of a machine expressible in power units (such as kilowatts of a direct-current generator) or in characteristics (such as voltage)

Examples of rating in a Sentence

The school has an above-average academic rating. The article compares the fuel-economy ratings of various cars.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Knicks hailing from the country’s largest media market certainly helped boost numbers for the Finals, but TV ratings for the NBA were up across the board in the first season of a new media rights deal. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026 In other words, while ABC’s average deliveries were off 29% compared to NBC’s 1998 average, its household rating was off by nearly half (-47%). Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 June 2026 The percentage of students who achieved a masters rating on the exam also increased across every grade level. Samuel O’Neal and, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 The streamer’s biggest European original starring David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Danny Dyer, which airs on Hulu in the States, will be back for a 12-episode season after Season 2 dropped to solid ratings and a strong set of reviews. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rating

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rating was in 1702

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Cite this Entry

“Rating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rating. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

rating

noun
rat·​ing
ˈrāt-iŋ
: a position within a grading system
credit rating

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