1
a
: relative standing or position
b
: a degree or position of dignity, eminence, or excellence : distinction
soon took rank as a leading attorney—
J. D. Hicks
J. D. Hicks
c
: high social position
the privileges of rank
d
: a grade of official standing in a hierarchy
2
: an aggregate of individuals classed together
—usually used in plural
3
b
: a row of people
c(1)
: a line of soldiers ranged side by side in close order
(2)
(3)
ranks plural
: the body of enlisted personnel
d
: any of the rows of squares that extend across a chessboard perpendicular to the files
e
British
: stand sense 6
4
: an orderly arrangement : formation
5
: the order according to some statistical characteristic (such as the score on a test)
6
: any of a series of classes of coal based on increasing alteration of the parent vegetable matter, increasing carbon content, and increasing fuel value
7
: the number of linearly independent rows or columns in a matrix
ranked; ranking; ranks
1
: to determine the relative position of : rate
a highly ranked prospect
2
: to arrange in lines or in a regular formation
3
: to take precedence of
1
: to take or have a position in relation to others
ranks first in her class
2
: to form or move in ranks
1
: offensive in odor or flavor
especially
: rancid
2
a
: shockingly conspicuous
must lecture him on his rank disloyalty—David Walden
David Walden
b
: outright
—used as an intensive
rank beginners
3
: luxuriantly or excessively vigorous in growth
4
: offensively gross or coarse : foul
6
: high in amount or degree : fraught
8
obsolete
: grown too large
rankly
adverb
rankness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of rank in a Sentence
Noun
people of high rank and profession
She's not concerned about rank or wealth.
officers with the rank of captain
He rose to the rank of partner in the law firm.
He longed to join the upper social ranks.
military ranks such as private, corporal, and sergeant
He moved up through the ranks to become vice president of the company.
The organization's ranks have doubled in the past two years.
The flu swept through the ranks, infecting almost every soldier.
Several men were selected from the ranks.
Verb
A magazine recently ranked the school as one of the best in the country.
The city currently ranks as the world's largest.
Students who rank in the top third of their class have a better chance of being accepted to the college of their choice.
Adjective
You can't expect a rank beginner like her to know all the rules of the game.
covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them
Recent Examples on the WebDouglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Mayorkas narrowly escaped the House’s first impeachment attempt when three GOP lawmakers, including one from California, broke ranks with their party and joined Democrats to vote against it.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Nineteen Republicans broke ranks with party leadership and voted against the measure, despite urging from Johnson that the legislation reformed the FISA program and is necessary for national security.
—Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Alison Johnson Arizona and Georgia, for example, rank high on the list for housing risks related to heavy private-equity purchases of rental homes; New Mexico and West Virginia place high for health care operations dominated by the financiers.
—Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
After his father died in 1992, Kishida won his seat in Hiroshima, moving up the ranks before becoming prime minister in October 2021.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
But which of the many, many panels, sweeps, puzzles, and quizzes rank among the best of the best?
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
The former Warriors and Kings coach left the pro ranks in the early 2010s, learned the college game at Arizona State and LSU — not many former NBA coaches are willing to be college assistants — and took charge of Nevada’s program in 2015.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
The issue is particularly pressing for Taiwan because, as its population dwindles, so do its military ranks.
—Eric Cheung, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
The last 10 months have now ranked as the world's warmest on record
Ramon Padilla Karina Zaiets
USA TODAY
Last year was Earth's warmest year on record, and the first three months of 2024 were even hotter than 2023, climate scientists reported this week.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
The Port of Baltimore ranks as the ninth largest port in the United States by trading volume.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
But three of those freshmen — outside hitter Will Dunning and twins Logan and Hudson Yockey — are ranked among the top players in the nation in their class.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024
But in the sordid denouement of what will surely rank as one of the most disturbing crimes in recent memory, even O.J. Simpson’s most stalwart fans may soon have to rethink their position.
—Susan Schindehette, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Results were then sent back to Nicklaus, ranking the effectiveness of each drug against the cancer.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound native of Spain ended the season ranked No. 2 at San Jose State with 13.2 points a game and No. 4 in the Mountain West with 171 assists.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024
Enfield ranks third on USC’s all-time wins list with a 220-147 record.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2024
The Denver Chute Out, Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, features top bull riders squaring off against the rankest bucking bulls in North America.
—Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2024
In the late 1940s, when the emerging post–World War II global order started to frown upon such rank imperialism, the U.S. allowed Puerto Ricans to elect our own governor and start drafting a Constitution.
—Alberto C. Medina, The New Republic, 24 July 2023
An unhinged, highly imaginative sadist, the Con Queen makes Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley look like a rank amateur.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2023
The air within the greenhouse was rank with exhaust fumes.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023
The Rockets throw the twelfth-most passes in the league, but rank stone cold last in assists, a testament to the fact that passes rarely arrive in the shooter's pocket.
—Mark Deeks, Forbes, 31 Mar. 2023
And 18% of Gen Z and millennials actually rank creator content higher than search engines for product information or recommendations.
—Rodney Mason, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
Seneca was a Roman senator, a philosopher and playwright who acted as tutor to the boy emperor and received nothing but rank ingratitude for his efforts.
—Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2023
Noun
Reyes rose the ranks in the detention system at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office before Levine Cava recruited him to run Miami-Dade’s jails in 2022.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Mayorkas narrowly escaped the House’s first impeachment attempt when three GOP lawmakers, including one from California, broke ranks with their party and joined Democrats to vote against it.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Nineteen Republicans broke ranks with party leadership and voted against the measure, despite urging from Johnson that the legislation reformed the FISA program and is necessary for national security.
—Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Alison Johnson Arizona and Georgia, for example, rank high on the list for housing risks related to heavy private-equity purchases of rental homes; New Mexico and West Virginia place high for health care operations dominated by the financiers.
—Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
After his father died in 1992, Kishida won his seat in Hiroshima, moving up the ranks before becoming prime minister in October 2021.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
But which of the many, many panels, sweeps, puzzles, and quizzes rank among the best of the best?
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
The former Warriors and Kings coach left the pro ranks in the early 2010s, learned the college game at Arizona State and LSU — not many former NBA coaches are willing to be college assistants — and took charge of Nevada’s program in 2015.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
The issue is particularly pressing for Taiwan because, as its population dwindles, so do its military ranks.
—Eric Cheung, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
Tripadvisor users ranked the Provo Canyon scenic drive and one of the canyon's waterfalls, Bridal Veil Falls, as the No. 1 and No. 2 things to do in Provo.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
The last 10 months have now ranked as the world's warmest on record
Ramon Padilla Karina Zaiets
USA TODAY
Last year was Earth's warmest year on record, and the first three months of 2024 were even hotter than 2023, climate scientists reported this week.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
The Port of Baltimore ranks as the ninth largest port in the United States by trading volume.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
But three of those freshmen — outside hitter Will Dunning and twins Logan and Hudson Yockey — are ranked among the top players in the nation in their class.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024
But in the sordid denouement of what will surely rank as one of the most disturbing crimes in recent memory, even O.J. Simpson’s most stalwart fans may soon have to rethink their position.
—Susan Schindehette, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Results were then sent back to Nicklaus, ranking the effectiveness of each drug against the cancer.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound native of Spain ended the season ranked No. 2 at San Jose State with 13.2 points a game and No. 4 in the Mountain West with 171 assists.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024
Enfield ranks third on USC’s all-time wins list with a 220-147 record.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Many of those still rank among Pixar's best films, have spawned sequels and featured the voice talents of instantly recognizable stars.
—Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2024
The Denver Chute Out, Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, features top bull riders squaring off against the rankest bucking bulls in North America.
—Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2024
In the late 1940s, when the emerging post–World War II global order started to frown upon such rank imperialism, the U.S. allowed Puerto Ricans to elect our own governor and start drafting a Constitution.
—Alberto C. Medina, The New Republic, 24 July 2023
An unhinged, highly imaginative sadist, the Con Queen makes Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley look like a rank amateur.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2023
The air within the greenhouse was rank with exhaust fumes.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023
The Rockets throw the twelfth-most passes in the league, but rank stone cold last in assists, a testament to the fact that passes rarely arrive in the shooter's pocket.
—Mark Deeks, Forbes, 31 Mar. 2023
And 18% of Gen Z and millennials actually rank creator content higher than search engines for product information or recommendations.
—Rodney Mason, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
Seneca was a Roman senator, a philosopher and playwright who acted as tutor to the boy emperor and received nothing but rank ingratitude for his efforts.
—Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rank.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, "row, series, high social position," borrowed from Anglo-Frenchrenc, ranc "line of soldiers, jousting lists, line or rank of persons or things" (continental Old & Middle French also "position in a series or class, high social position"), going back to Old Low Franconian *hringa- "circle, ring," going back to Germanic *hrenga — more at ring entry 1
Verb
derivative of rank entry 1
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English ranc overbearing, strong; akin to Old Norse rakkr erect and perhaps to Old English riht right — more at right
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Verb
1573, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Time Traveler
The first known use of rank was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing rank
Dictionary Entries Near rank
Cite this Entry
“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rank. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
rank
1 of 3 adjective1
: strong and active in growth
rank weeds
2
: offensively gross or vulgar : foul
rank language
3
a
: very noticeable
rank dishonesty
b
: outright entry 2 sense 1
rank beginners
4
: offensive in odor or flavor
rankly
adverb
rankness
noun
rank
2 of 3 noun2
a
: a line of soldiers standing side by side
b
: the body of enlisted persons in an army
rose from the ranks
3
: a group of individuals classed together
—usually used in plural
in the ranks of the unemployed
4
: position within a group
a poet of high rank
5
: official grade or position
the rank of general
6
: high social position
a person of rank
rank
3 of 3 verb1
: to arrange in lines or in a formation
2
: to determine the position of in relation to others : rate
a highly ranked player
3
: to come before in rank
a captain ranks a lieutenant
4
: to take or have a certain position in a group
ranks third in the class
More from Merriam-Webster on rank
Nglish: Translation of rank for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rank for Arabic Speakers
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