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

His sliding popularity, flip-flopping on key personnel decisions, and entanglement in corruption allegations, have taken their toll on his poll ratings. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Nielsen has taken great pains to caution that there is no guarantee that ratings gains will accompany these changes, which are being implemented to further improve the accuracy of its data gathering. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026

But the poll noted that Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, had higher favorability ratings among American Catholics during the same time in their respective reigns — 90% to Leo’s 75%. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

The results showed that ratings and reviews, with 53 percent, and detailed product descriptions, with 52 percent, now beat a discount or deal, with 49 percent, as the factors shoppers weigh most when forming buying decisions. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 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