equate

verb \ i-ˈkwāt , ˈē-ˌkwāt \

Definition of equate

equated; equating

transitive verb

1 a :to make equal :equalize

b :to make such an allowance or correction in as will reduce to a common standard or obtain a correct result

2 :to treat, represent, or regard as equal, equivalent, or comparable

equates disagreement with disloyalty

intransitive verb

:to correspond as equal

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Examples of equate in a Sentence

You shouldn't equate those two things.
a value system that equates money with success

Recent Examples of equate from the Web

As president, Trump has a responsibility to lead this country with moral authority, and equating a racist mob with the counterprotesters who stood up to resist them constitutes a passive sanctioning of weaponized bigotry.

— lauren duca, Teen Vogue, "How "Nice White People" Benefit from Charlottesville and White Supremacy," 14 Aug. 2017
Together, the Dunford and Goldfein notes illustrate that military leaders do not equate Trump’s tweets with legal orders.

— robert burns, The Seattle Times, "No immediate military transgender change, top officer says," 27 July 2017
Connie and Laureen Park were hoping the strongest conviction would equate to the strongest chance Sanders-Campfield would not be released any time soon.

— dan morse, Washington Post, "‘Do you remember?’ Daughter confronts mentally ill woman who killed her mom," 26 July 2017
Those big-city opera snobs who would equate regional opera with provincial opera haven't reckoned on DMMO.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "World-class opera grows tall and proud in the Corn Belt," 11 July 2017
The $96 million equates to nearly 7 percent of the $1.4 billion statewide that county school districts would have had in total to spend next year, after accounting for required debt payments off the top.

— kristen m. clark, miamiherald, "Charter schools will get $96M in capital aid from Florida school districts next year," 30 June 2017
People too often equate federal spending with establishing a safety net, when greater competition and a free market could produce better results at a lower cost, in Roy’s view.

— juliet eilperin, Washington Post, "Senate health-care bill faces serious resistance from GOP moderates," 24 June 2017
The idea that those of us with autoimmune diseases can be equated to an inconvenience affects not only our self-esteems, but promotes a negative narrative of disabled people echoed in films like Me Before You and Million Dollar Baby.

— keah brown, Harper's BAZAAR, "Disabled People Are Not an Inconvenience," 23 June 2017
But in this league, their diligence, while admirable, is competing with the urge to try to be great now. Many teams equate being active to pursuing greatness, which isn't necessarily true.

— jerry brewer, chicagotribune.com, "The NBA offseason is already more compelling than the 2016-17 season," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'equate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of equate

Middle English, from Latin aequatus, past participle of aequare

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First Known Use: 15th century

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equate Synonyms

Synonyms

compare, liken

Antonyms

contrast

Related Words

associate, connect, correlate, identify, join, link, match, relate; group, lump (together); assort, categorize, class, classify, grade, group, sort

Near Antonyms

differentiate, discern, discriminate, distinguish, separate

EQUATE Defined for English Language Learners

equate

verb

Definition of equate for English Language Learners

: to say or think that (two things) are equal or the same

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equate

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