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 investment bank on Wednesday cut its rating on H shares to market-weight from overweight, while staying overweight on mainland China’s A shares — as a way to play artificial intelligence hardware. —Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 June 2026

That is, before an actual tornado sweeps through Pine Valley, right in the middle of a black-tie event and in time to boost summer ratings. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

The comfort temperature range is listed as 7 ºC to 15 °C (45 ºF to 59 °F), while the extreme temperature rating is 0 °C (32 °F). —Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 2 June 2026

Arraez has thrived at second base, posting a nine outs above average rating that lands in the 99th percentile. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 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