equate

verb

i-ˈkwāt 

ˈē-ˌkwāt

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

Synonyms of equate

• compare

Examples of equate in a Sentence

You shouldn't equate those two things.

a value system that equates money with success

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement What’s more, equating darkness with evil and goodness with light may be a relatively recent invention. —Veronique Greenwood, Time, 21 Dec. 2025

Democrats equated the salary to Lincoln’s working as a party operative. —Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025

But Bi doesn’t equate the unlimited duration of a shot with the eternal life of a medium; in the logic of the film, the long take is a final, indulgent expenditure of energy, one that risks finishing the Deliriant off at last. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025

This vampire novel is such a classic, many equate the entire vampire genre to its titular character. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin aequatus, past participle of aequare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing equate

• equate to
• equate with/and

Rhymes for equate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

equate

verb

i-ˈkwāt 

equated; equating

: to make or treat as equal or equivalent