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

• 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

As LendingTree's analysts noted, respondents were more than twice as likely to equate wealth with a lack of financial worries as making a six-figure salary (23 percent) or boasting a net worth of over $1 million (26 percent). —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025

Organizations often equate leadership with charisma. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Many equate an omakase restaurant with stuffiness and outrageous prices. —Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2025

These evolutionary bursts could also be equated with splitting or speciation events. —Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 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