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

The price currently equates for a base rate in the region of 3.75%—representing a cut of two measures from the Fed. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2025

Quite literally mimicking the effect of watercolor paint on paper, pro makeup artist Kasey Spickard equates its rise in popularity to beauty’s shift towards skincare-makeup hybrids as another take on a natural flush—perhaps even a reactionary response to the heavy matte makeup of the 2010s. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 31 July 2025

The results reflect a possible generational and ideological realignment, as younger and more progressive Jewish voters appear less likely to equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. —Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025

To do this, the researchers equated the gaps in the Tetris game with the subsets of the problem and the falling bricks with the numbers that have to be split up. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 28 July 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