rating

noun

rat·​ing ˈrā-tiŋ 

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

According to the lawsuit, Chaac managers previously manually input orders into DoorDash tablet software that processed delivery orders, as well as allow an operator to prevent Dashers with lower ratings from accepting orders. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 May 2026

Veterans who are injured and disabled in the course of military service, but manage 20 years of service, are eligible to receive full retirement pay plus full disability payments from the Veterans Administration (providing their disability is rated at least 50% on the VA ratings scale). —Star Parker, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026

The last step is to review and confirm your content-rating level for the profile. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 May 2026

Late night ratings are going down. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rating

• approval rating
• credit rating
• Q rating
• self-rating

Rhymes for rating

• baiting
• bating
• crating
• dating
• freighting
• gating
• grating
• hating
• mating
• plaiting
• plating
• prating

Kids Definition

rating

noun

rat·​ing

ˈrāt-iŋ

: a position within a grading system

credit rating