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

With more than a dozen reviews already, the restaurant has earned a perfect 5-star rating on Google. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026

Fox News topped the July ratings, but among the major cable news networks, MS NOW and CNN made gains during the month versus 2025. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 July 2026

The African Union has backed a plan to create a homegrown ratings agency due to launch in October. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 29 July 2026

And in the first quarter of 2026, the program scored its best young adult ratings in more than eight years. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 29 July 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