rate

1 of 3

noun

ˈrāt 

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

rate

2 of 3

verb (1)

rated; rating

transitive verb

1

a

: to set an estimate on : value, esteem

talents that are rated highly

b

: to determine or assign the relative rank or class of : grade

rate a seaman

c

: to estimate the normal capacity or power of

2

: consider, regard

was rated an excellent pianist

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

intransitive verb

: to enjoy a status of special privilege

really rates with the boss

rate

3 of 3

verb (2)

rated; rating

transitive verb

1

: to rebuke angrily or violently

2

obsolete : to drive away by scolding

intransitive verb

: to voice angry reprimands

Phrases

at any rate

: in any case : anyway

Synonyms

Noun

• quality

Verb (1)

• deserve
• earn

Verb (2)

• scold
• lecture
• reprimand
• blame
• criticize

Choose the Right Synonym for rate

estimate, appraise, evaluate, value, rate, assess mean to judge something with respect to its worth or significance.

estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

Examples of rate in a Sentence

Verb (1)

how does a summer intern rate a new computer when I've been told to make do with this clunker?

nowadays most motorists would probably rate their cell phone as an "essential" piece of electronic equipment

a restaurant that consistently rates high in all the standard categories

I would rate her my best friend; after all, she's always been there when I needed her

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.

Verb (2)

a tyrannical father who usually spent most of dinnertime rating his children on their alleged multitude of failings

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In early May, as tariff rates spiked, nearly 50 people joined the second meeting of the Pedal Builders Support Group, double the turnout of its inaugural call. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025

In January, Overhaul projected a year-on-year cargo theft rate increase of 22 percent by the end of 2025. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 1 July 2025

Verb

This year, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania tied for the top spot with 100% all their inland waters rating excellent. —Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Cal Fire described the blaze as a vegetation fire and rated its severity as critical. —Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

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

Phrases Containing rate

• adjustable rate mortgage
• at a rate of knots
• at this/that rate
• bank rate
• basal metabolic rate
• birth rate
• bit rate
• carload rate
• case fatality rate
• crude death rate
• cut-rate
• death rate
• discount rate
• exchange rate
• fatality rate
• first-rate
• going rate
• heart/pulse rate
• heart rate
• lapse rate
• mortality rate
• pay rate
• prime rate
• rate of change
• rate of exchange
• rate of pay
• second-rate
• tenth-rate
• third-rate
• variable rate mortgage

Rhymes for rate

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

rate

1 of 3 verb

ˈrāt 

rated; rating

: to scold violently : berate

rate

2 of 3 noun

1

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

noun

ˈrāt 

1

: 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

noun

1

: 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