1
a
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else
her typing rate was 80 words per minute
b
: an amount of payment or charge based on another amount
specifically
: the amount of premium per unit of insurance
2
a
: a charge, payment, or price fixed according to a ratio, scale, or standard: such as
(1)
: a charge per unit of a public-service commodity
(2)
: a charge per unit of freight or passenger service
(3)
: a unit charge or ratio used in assessing property taxes
(4)
British
: a local tax
b
: a fixed ratio between two things
3
a
: reckoned value : valuation
b
obsolete
: estimation
4
: relative condition or quality : class
5
obsolete
: a fixed quantity
rated; rating
1
3
: to have a right to : deserve
she rated special privileges
4
: to fix the amount of premium to be charged per unit of insurance on
5
obsolete
: allot
: to enjoy a status of special privilege
really rates with the boss
rated; rating
: to voice angry reprimands
Synonyms
Noun
Verb (1)
Verb (2)
Examples of rate in a Sentence
Noun
The cold weather meant a slower growing rate for many crops.
At the rate we're moving, it will be morning before we arrive.
People work at different rates.
Gun violence is increasing at an alarming rate.
Snow was falling at a rate of three inches per hour.
There has been a fall in the rate of inflation.
Crime rates have declined in recent years.
What's the interest rate on the loan?
Regular admission to the theater is $12, the student rate is $8, and the rate for senior citizens is $6.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Agricultural workers already have one of the lowest rates of unionization out of any private industry and historically face fierce opposition from the industry, outside groups and workers alike.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
The airport’s jump up from No. 5 in 2022 is representative of a big growth area in aviation, with industry expansion in emerging and developing economies in the Middle East and Asia Pacific expected at more than twice the rate of advanced economies in the decades to come, de Oliveira said.
—Marnie Hunter, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The finance magazine also looked at some other aspects of Bisbee living, such as housing costs and unemployment rates.
—The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Oil prices rose around 1% on Friday over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East but posted a weekly loss in the face of worries about slower cuts to U.S. interest rates and other global economic factors.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
That suggests that Kevin and Cale believe that rates are not yet enough high enough.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
Signs of sticky inflation have already dampened hopes that the Fed would soon begin cutting rates.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
High mortgage rates, low stock of available homes, and inflation have pushed up the cost of home buying in the past year.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
McCormick was very limited as a receiver and didn’t block nearly as well as perceived, according to PFF, which rated him Miami’s worst player on offense overall last season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Yet, a larger share of voters see Mr. Trump’s term as better for the country than the current administration, with 42 percent rating the Trump presidency as mostly good for the country compared with 25 percent who say the same about Mr. Biden’s.
—Ruth Igielnik, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Collectors pay companies such as PSA to rate the quality of the card and preserve it in plastic.
—Caitlin Clark, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Golden State’s defense is rated slightly worse, but has been elite since Trayce Jackson-Davis joined Green in the starting lineup (fourth in the last nine games).
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Nearby Lake Charles, two tornadoes hit Cameron Parish, Lousiana, Wednesday, both rated EF-1 with maximum winds of 100 mph.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Their mission was to taste the dish at all the restaurants in Bari that served it, with a rigorous scoring system that rated each version on crunch, spice, and char.
—Dan Pashman, Saveur, 11 Apr. 2024
It’s rated for all weather and winds up to 30 knots.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
Corporations are supposed to pay a nominal tax rate of 21%.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Agricultural workers already have one of the lowest rates of unionization out of any private industry and historically face fierce opposition from the industry, outside groups and workers alike.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
The airport’s jump up from No. 5 in 2022 is representative of a big growth area in aviation, with industry expansion in emerging and developing economies in the Middle East and Asia Pacific expected at more than twice the rate of advanced economies in the decades to come, de Oliveira said.
—Marnie Hunter, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The finance magazine also looked at some other aspects of Bisbee living, such as housing costs and unemployment rates.
—The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Oil prices rose around 1% on Friday over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East but posted a weekly loss in the face of worries about slower cuts to U.S. interest rates and other global economic factors.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
That suggests that Kevin and Cale believe that rates are not yet enough high enough.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
Signs of sticky inflation have already dampened hopes that the Fed would soon begin cutting rates.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
High mortgage rates, low stock of available homes, and inflation have pushed up the cost of home buying in the past year.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
As for power, the yacht is fitted with twin MTU engines rated at 2,638 hp, which give it a top speed of 21.5 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
McCormick was very limited as a receiver and didn’t block nearly as well as perceived, according to PFF, which rated him Miami’s worst player on offense overall last season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Yet, a larger share of voters see Mr. Trump’s term as better for the country than the current administration, with 42 percent rating the Trump presidency as mostly good for the country compared with 25 percent who say the same about Mr. Biden’s.
—Ruth Igielnik, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Collectors pay companies such as PSA to rate the quality of the card and preserve it in plastic.
—Caitlin Clark, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Golden State’s defense is rated slightly worse, but has been elite since Trayce Jackson-Davis joined Green in the starting lineup (fourth in the last nine games).
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Nearby Lake Charles, two tornadoes hit Cameron Parish, Lousiana, Wednesday, both rated EF-1 with maximum winds of 100 mph.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Their mission was to taste the dish at all the restaurants in Bari that served it, with a rigorous scoring system that rated each version on crunch, spice, and char.
—Dan Pashman, Saveur, 11 Apr. 2024
It’s rated for all weather and winds up to 30 knots.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin (pro) rata (parte) according to a fixed proportion
Verb (2)
Middle English
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of rate was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing rate
Dictionary Entries Near rate
Cite this Entry
“Rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
rate
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a constant ratio between two things
a rate of exchange
b
: a price or charge set according to a scale or standard
hotel rates
tax rate
2
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured in units of something else
the unemployment rate
3
: a level of quality : class
rate
3 of 3 verb
rated; rating
1
: consider sense 3, regard
was rated a good pianist
2
: to set an estimate on : evaluate
3
: to determine the rank, class, or position of : grade
rate a movie
4
: to have a rating : be classed
rates high in math
5
: to have a right to : deserve
rate a promotion
Etymology
Verb
Middle English raten "to scold violently"
Noun
Middle English rate "an estimated or determined value," from early French rate (same meaning), derived from Latin rata, literally, "fixed, determined," from (pro) rata (parte) "according to the fixed proportion"
Medical Definition
rate
noun1
: a fixed ratio between two things
2
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else see death rate, heart rate, metabolic rate, pulse rate, sedimentation rate
Legal Definition
rate
noun1
: a fixed ratio between two things
2
: a charge, payment, or price fixed according to a ratio, scale, or standard: as
a
: a charge per unit of a commodity provided by a public utility
b
: a charge per unit of freight or passenger service see also joint rate
c
: a unit charge or ratio used in assessing property taxes
3
a
: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else
b
: an amount of payment or charge based on another amount
specifically
: the amount of premium per unit of insurance
rate
transitive verb
More from Merriam-Webster on rate
Nglish: Translation of rate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rate for Arabic Speakers
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