1
a
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else
her typing rate was 80 words per minute
b
: an amount of payment or charge based on another amount
specifically
: the amount of premium per unit of insurance
2
a
: a charge, payment, or price fixed according to a ratio, scale, or standard: such as
(1)
: a charge per unit of a public-service commodity
(2)
: a charge per unit of freight or passenger service
(3)
: a unit charge or ratio used in assessing property taxes
(4)
British
: a local tax
b
: a fixed ratio between two things
3
a
: reckoned value : valuation
b
obsolete
: estimation
4
: relative condition or quality : class
5
obsolete
: a fixed quantity
rated; rating
1
3
: to have a right to : deserve
she rated special privileges
4
: to fix the amount of premium to be charged per unit of insurance on
5
obsolete
: allot
: to enjoy a status of special privilege
really rates with the boss
rated; rating
: to voice angry reprimands
Synonyms
Noun
Verb (1)
Verb (2)
Examples of rate in a Sentence
Noun
The cold weather meant a slower growing rate for many crops.
At the rate we're moving, it will be morning before we arrive.
People work at different rates.
Gun violence is increasing at an alarming rate.
Snow was falling at a rate of three inches per hour.
There has been a fall in the rate of inflation.
Crime rates have declined in recent years.
What's the interest rate on the loan?
Regular admission to the theater is $12, the student rate is $8, and the rate for senior citizens is $6.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Ted Reed, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Jean Chung/Bloomberg News South Korea’s central bank held its policy rate steady, as expected, while raising inflation forecasts for this year and the next.
—Kwanwoo Jun, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023
Some Wall Street analysts now forecast that the central bank could move to trim its benchmark interest rate by the middle of 2024.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2023
But the House is barely performing at its normal rate of functional-dysfunctionality these days (just ask newly-former House speaker Kevin McCarthy).
—Matt Laslo, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
The percentage of Academy members who are women has also increased in that time frame, albeit at a more modest rate, from 26% to 30%.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2023
That’s an important question in a world where wildlife is experiencing change at a very rapid rate.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 20 women, who would be released in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2023
As for potential rate increases, Nelson’s group estimates Diablo Canyon produces about 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year at a cost between 2023 and 2030 of about 4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2023
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Google also fixed seven issues in the System, six of which are rated as having a high severity and one marked as critical.
—Kate O'Flaherty, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
Platforms used to offer recommendations based on clear user inputs (consider that Netflix used to ask you to rate a movie out of five stars); now things have gotten murkier as our behavior is tracked and collated in complex, opaque ways.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2023
Although this table is rated for indoor or outdoor use, the manufacturer recommends storing it inside or covering it during rain or snow.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2023
Most people also ask family and friends to rate them first.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
However, of that terrain, more than half is rated expert — and that’s not even counting its glorious backcountry.
Consider the famed Corbet's Couloir, one of the steepest open runs in all of North America.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
It’s rated as 5.12a on the Yosemite Decimal System, a metric used to rate the difficulty of climbing routes on a scale from 5.1 to 5.15.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
Skiing and Snowboarding Info Big Sky Resort has more than 5,850 acres of skiable terrain, 21 percent of which are rated beginner, 29 percent intermediate, and 50 percent advanced.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023
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Noun
In June 2022, Delta began to pay its 26,000 flight attendants during boarding time at half their usual hourly rate.
—Ted Reed, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Jean Chung/Bloomberg News South Korea’s central bank held its policy rate steady, as expected, while raising inflation forecasts for this year and the next.
—Kwanwoo Jun, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023
Some Wall Street analysts now forecast that the central bank could move to trim its benchmark interest rate by the middle of 2024.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2023
But the House is barely performing at its normal rate of functional-dysfunctionality these days (just ask newly-former House speaker Kevin McCarthy).
—Matt Laslo, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
The percentage of Academy members who are women has also increased in that time frame, albeit at a more modest rate, from 26% to 30%.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2023
That’s an important question in a world where wildlife is experiencing change at a very rapid rate.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 20 women, who would be released in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2023
As for potential rate increases, Nelson’s group estimates Diablo Canyon produces about 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year at a cost between 2023 and 2030 of about 4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2023
Verb
Players still rate it as a more prestigious prize than the T20 World Cup.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Google also fixed seven issues in the System, six of which are rated as having a high severity and one marked as critical.
—Kate O'Flaherty, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
Platforms used to offer recommendations based on clear user inputs (consider that Netflix used to ask you to rate a movie out of five stars); now things have gotten murkier as our behavior is tracked and collated in complex, opaque ways.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2023
Although this table is rated for indoor or outdoor use, the manufacturer recommends storing it inside or covering it during rain or snow.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2023
Most people also ask family and friends to rate them first.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
However, of that terrain, more than half is rated expert — and that’s not even counting its glorious backcountry.
Consider the famed Corbet's Couloir, one of the steepest open runs in all of North America.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
It’s rated as 5.12a on the Yosemite Decimal System, a metric used to rate the difficulty of climbing routes on a scale from 5.1 to 5.15.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
Skiing and Snowboarding Info Big Sky Resort has more than 5,850 acres of skiable terrain, 21 percent of which are rated beginner, 29 percent intermediate, and 50 percent advanced.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rate.' 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, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin (pro) rata (parte) according to a fixed proportion
Verb (2)
Middle English
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of rate was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing rate
Dictionary Entries Near rate
Cite this Entry
“Rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rate. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
rate
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a constant ratio between two things
a rate of exchange
b
: a price or charge set according to a scale or standard
hotel rates
tax rate
2
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured in units of something else
the unemployment rate
3
: a level of quality : class
rate
3 of 3 verb
rated; rating
1
: consider sense 3, regard
was rated a good pianist
2
: to set an estimate on : evaluate
3
: to determine the rank, class, or position of : grade
rate a movie
4
: to have a rating : be classed
rates high in math
5
: to have a right to : deserve
rate a promotion
Etymology
Verb
Middle English raten "to scold violently"
Noun
Middle English rate "an estimated or determined value," from early French rate (same meaning), derived from Latin rata, literally, "fixed, determined," from (pro) rata (parte) "according to the fixed proportion"
Medical Definition
rate
noun1
: a fixed ratio between two things
2
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else see death rate, heart rate, metabolic rate, pulse rate, sedimentation rate
Legal Definition
rate
noun1
: a fixed ratio between two things
2
: a charge, payment, or price fixed according to a ratio, scale, or standard: as
a
: a charge per unit of a commodity provided by a public utility
b
: a charge per unit of freight or passenger service see also joint rate
c
: a unit charge or ratio used in assessing property taxes
3
a
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else
b
: an amount of payment or charge based on another amount
specifically
: the amount of premium per unit of insurance
rate
transitive verb
More from Merriam-Webster on rate
Nglish: Translation of rate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rate for Arabic Speakers
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