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

The President is distrusted on the economy and has, per Fox News, a disapproval rating of an astonishing fifty-nine per cent. —Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026

The safety ratings come as consumer interest in electric cars has increased alongside rising gas prices. —Keith Laing, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026

But the Cavaliers, which entered with the NBA’s sixth-best offensive rating this season, shredded the Heat’s defense on Friday. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026

PicPay PicPay was recently initiated with a buy rating by analyst Mario Pierry. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 28 Mar. 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