pro·rate
(ˌ)prō-ˈrāt 
ˈprō-ˌrāt
prorated; prorating
: to divide, distribute, or assess proportionately
: to make a pro rata distribution
pro·ra·tion
prōˈrāshən
plural -s
: the act or an instance of prorating
specifically
: the limitation of production of crude oil or gas to some fractional part of the total productive capacity of each producer
Examples of prorate in a Sentence
Verb
The player's annual salary was prorated because he only played for the last three months of the season.
shares in the company's profits were prorated according to the workers' length of service
Recent Examples on the Web
Cory Turner,
NPR,
10 June 2026
Signing bonuses, in particular, are often prorated over multiple years for salary cap purposes, which is why the timing of a trade can matter.
—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Each year, the Patriots can choose to either exercise Brown’s option bonus and prorate it over five seasons for salary-cap purposes, or decline the option and take the entire amount on that year’s cap.
—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
3 June 2026
In his recent filing, the actor requested that the potential bonus amount be prorated to the date of the children's graduations.
—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prorate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Awards for short-term training will likely be prorated for the program's length.
—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
10 June 2026
Signing bonuses, in particular, are often prorated over multiple years for salary cap purposes, which is why the timing of a trade can matter.
—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Each year, the Patriots can choose to either exercise Brown’s option bonus and prorate it over five seasons for salary-cap purposes, or decline the option and take the entire amount on that year’s cap.
—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
3 June 2026
In his recent filing, the actor requested that the potential bonus amount be prorated to the date of the children's graduations.
—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prorate
Cite this Entry
“Prorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prorate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prorate
verb
pro·rate
(ˈ)prō-ˈrāt
prorated; prorating
: to divide or spread proportionately
prorate a weekly wage for three days of work
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
