grades 1 of 2

plural of grade
1
as in stages
an individual part of a process, series, or ranking just one grade removed from completion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
5
as in slopes
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the hill rises at a seven percent grade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grades

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grade

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grades
Noun
Position grades were brutal, with F’s handed to the quarterback, running back and offensive line — Dak Prescott finished 34 of 54 for 258 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and the backfield mustered just 41 rushing yards on 13 carries. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026 The state took over Marlin schools in 2017, following five consecutive years of failing performance grades. — Daniel H. Robinson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026 Massachusetts saw a drop in English and Language Arts MCAS scores this year, with just 40% of students in grades 3 through 8 meeting or exceeding standards. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Based in El Paso, Texas, Mid-West Textile collects, sorts and grades used clothing and textiles for resale and other uses. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 One of Dugas’ patients who worried intensely about grades was asked to wait 48 hours before checking a test result that had been posted online. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published a policy statement affirming the importance of recess for students in all grades, K-12. — Rachel Deitch, Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2026 Mecklenburg County sanitation scores The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 493 restaurants were inspected in September. — Eva Flowe october 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026 One health insurance company, Alignment Healthcare, has already threatened to sue the government after its star ratings were downgraded — a now-common occurrence for almost any insurer that is unhappy with its grades. — Bob Herman, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
The business also grades textiles for wholesale customers, evaluating items by condition, material, size, brand and style. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 Schlittler throws a curveball that grades out rather well, but he’s thrown it less than 10% of the time. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026 Hundreds of students, grades seven through 12, arrived on yellow school buses for the rally. — Ali Bauman, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 But how does this ranking compare to scores from Leapfrog, a watchdog organization that grades hospitals on safety? — Eva Flowe august 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026 Marquez grades well on rival teams’ models, according to analysts with several teams who were granted anonymity to speak freely. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 24 July 2026 In addition to the zones, the board must decide which grades the new West High School will initially serve. — Arkansas Online, 16 July 2026 The 4Cs is the standard GIA grading scale for diamonds, which grades on cut, color, clarity, and carat size. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 22 May 2026 The report grades medical care facilities on a scale from A to F, with A being the highest grade and F the lowest. — Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grades
Noun
  • At the time of writing, the new ship is still very much in the planning stages and has not had an official construction contract agreed.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Each piece is made using a cast-iron mold engraved with CNC technology, creating a subtractive geometry inspired by the rough-hewn stages of marble carving.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Advertisement The day after the raid, the Wilder School District reported absent rates soared, with 20% of students absent, according to The Idaho Statesman.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Interestingly, there is no statistically detectable difference in offending rates before college, suggesting the future fraternity members weren’t always fundamentally different in their behavior.
    — Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Prior Justice Department inspectors general have long complained about the limitations to their authority to investigate certain types of attorney misconduct.
    — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Ninety-four percent of Americans recognize that repairing and upgrading transportation infrastructure helps these types of vehicles move people and goods more quickly and safely.
    — Kevin Blackwell, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • As the industry kept growing, Congress added safety, noise and emissions standards to protect the communities living beneath the flight paths.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Staff are attentive and helpful without being overly formal, delivering the high standards of a larger hotel with the personal touch of a boutique property.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • From shredding the slopes in the winter to floating on the water in the summer, the unofficial capital of the Sierra Nevada sees outdoorsy travelers constantly flocking to its campsites and cabins.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The land on which Thwaites sits slopes downward, meaning as the glacier melts, more ice is exposed to warm ocean water.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Quantum mechanics, which recently turned 100 years old, ranks as the most successful theory in the history of physics.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The personal money spent on her campaign also ranks among the top 30 in California history, according to CalMatters.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Public health officials say there is no conclusive scientific evidence that supports using cat’s claw for any health purposes.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The best seats will be the cheapest There is a wide spread in the available prices for tickets to see U2 on their 2027 tour.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Seeing a few chapters out of context is not going to deliver the same thrill as cracking open the new book and reading as the author intended.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The most distinct chapters, from Snell’s costuming perspective, are the country and the city.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grades. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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