rating

noun

rat·​ing ˈrā-tiŋ 

1

: a classification according to grade

specifically : a military or naval specialist classification

2

chiefly British : an enlisted sailor

3

a

: relative estimate or evaluation : standing

the school has a good academic rating

b

: an estimate of an individual's or business's credit and responsibility

c

: an estimate of the percentage of the public listening to or viewing a particular radio or television program

4

: a stated operating limit of a machine expressible in power units (such as kilowatts of a direct-current generator) or in characteristics (such as voltage)

Examples of rating in a Sentence

The school has an above-average academic rating.

The article compares the fuel-economy ratings of various cars.

Recent Examples on the Web

The next time somebody tells you that the sport is dying, tell them to take a look at the WBC television ratings. —Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026

The film will need to hold strong for several weekends to justify its $200 million price tag, but the optics look good considering its 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and excellent word of mouth. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026

Vic Schaefer coaches up top-10 rankings in offensive and defensive rating. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026

As tough as the iPad Air seems, it's not protected against dust or water by an IP rating. —Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rating

• approval rating
• credit rating
• Q rating
• self-rating

Rhymes for rating

• baiting
• bating
• crating
• dating
• freighting
• gating
• grating
• hating
• mating
• plaiting
• plating
• prating

Kids Definition

rating

noun

rat·​ing

ˈrāt-iŋ

: a position within a grading system

credit rating