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

Investors will equate the United States to Turkey or Argentina, where leaders bully central banks and currencies collapse. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

Dunne captures all of that in the title track, a bouncy, bittersweet singalong that equates success with a baked seafood dish. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025

In a terse statement confirming only the broad outlines of the incident, the Pentagon equated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government to a narco-trafficking cartel, allegations Caracas denies. —Phil Stewart, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

Reid likes to equate playing quarterback to being a farmer, at least in the sense that there’s always more work to be done. —Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 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