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

One talent manager equated it to dishing out free samples at an ice cream store, with the hopes of convincing TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts users to try creators’ longer videos. —Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026

To equate the suffering of Jesus with the circumstances of any political leader distorts the Gospel beyond recognition. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026

Some like Sarkar equated a detention center in Dublin to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II or to the Jewish concentration camps of Nazi Germany. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026

Wright equates climate-change activists to alarmists and has likened efforts by Democrats to combat global warming to Soviet-style communism. —Anca Gurzu, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026

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