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 movie took home several Academy Awards and earned a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its thrilling story about two astronauts who become stranded in outer space during a routine mission. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025

Like Feinseth, TipRanks’ AI Analyst is also optimistic about WMT, and has an outperform rating with a price target of $122. —Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025

These firms assign ratings from AAA+ on down. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025

They’re not only backed by stellar customer ratings, but also are reasonably priced. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2025

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