1
2
as in rates
degree of excellence
only motor oil of the highest grade for his fancy sports car
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in types
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
there are various grades of wool to consider when selecting a fabric
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in standards
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared
that painting just doesn't make the grade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
1
as in ranks
to arrange or assign according to type
grade these apples "extra fancy" and those "fancy"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in is
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes
believe it or not, that music grades pretty high with young teens
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
After receiving late-round and PFA grades from scouts, Kamara returned to Bloomington for his sixth season.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Students in grades three through eight and grade 11 take the assessment for English language arts and math while students in just three grades (in fifth, eighth and once in high school) are assessed for science.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The Power to Explore Challenge named winners in grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 for writing a plan for a mission to any moon in the solar system using radioisotope power systems.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, in spring 2025, no grades were performing in math at the levels seen in 2019, before the pandemic.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
Help your child maintain focus on achieving good grades and steer him or her toward Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes to boost college applications.
—Rachel Spector, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
That said, here are the instant grades for both teams in the trade.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
The offer is good for up to 35 gallons of gas and is eligible on all fuel grades.
—Marina Johnson, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Jackson Merrill grades out as above average as a hitter, defender and baserunner, though not to the same extent as Tatis.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
With the final stretch coming up in September, here's how FanGraphs grades each team's chances for postseason seeding.
—Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The roster will continuously be tinkered with, but this appears to be the starting point for 2025, and here is how the Miami Herald grades each unit.
—Omar Kelly
august 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
Led by Zurich, played by Trevor Jackson, the group is pushed to their mental and physical limits while trying to maintain their grades, relationships, and sense of self.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
After receiving late-round and PFA grades from scouts, Kamara returned to Bloomington for his sixth season.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Students in grades three through eight and grade 11 take the assessment for English language arts and math while students in just three grades (in fifth, eighth and once in high school) are assessed for science.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The Power to Explore Challenge named winners in grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 for writing a plan for a mission to any moon in the solar system using radioisotope power systems.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, in spring 2025, no grades were performing in math at the levels seen in 2019, before the pandemic.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
Help your child maintain focus on achieving good grades and steer him or her toward Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes to boost college applications.
—Rachel Spector, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
That said, here are the instant grades for both teams in the trade.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
The offer is good for up to 35 gallons of gas and is eligible on all fuel grades.
—Marina Johnson, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Only Mikey Anderson grades out higher among defensemen league-wide.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Jackson Merrill grades out as above average as a hitter, defender and baserunner, though not to the same extent as Tatis.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
With the final stretch coming up in September, here's how FanGraphs grades each team's chances for postseason seeding.
—Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The roster will continuously be tinkered with, but this appears to be the starting point for 2025, and here is how the Miami Herald grades each unit.
—Omar Kelly
august 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grades
Noun
-
Research has also showed that engaging the brain in new ways builds cognitive reserve, which is how the brain can maintain its functioning in the face of aging, damage or early stages of disease.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Around Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health shows the tick is established, meaning more than five ticks or more than two stages are identified in the same year, in 14 counties.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The administration also looked at data showing Memphis’ murder rates are approximately four times higher than Mexico City and 27 times higher than Havana, suggesting the city is more dangerous than areas abroad with elevated crime rates.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Preservé is only compatible with the Motiva SmoothSilk Ergonomix (teardrop-shaped) breast implants, which the FDA approved last year, following a lengthy clinical trial that demonstrated unprecedentedly low rates of complications.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Approximately 48% of the aircraft positions reviewed were MLAT (multilateration) data, meaning that some geographic data points were recorded less frequently than with other signal types.—
Natasha Bertrand,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Cool-Season Or Warm-Season Grass There are two types of grasses—the cool-season and the warm-season.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
By Harvard’s standards, the school’s endowment was not its primary boasting point—public-health alumni don’t tend to become billionaires —and in times of wider financial turmoil, HSPH remained well insulated, Amanda Spickard, the associate dean for research strategy and external affairs, told me.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Watch this video to learn how social media algorithms are impacting beauty standards for both men and women.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
By then, the slopes in northern China became his second home.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Which is something to think about until November when court will again be in session on the fir and aspen slopes of Disappointment Mountain.—
Bob Cary,
Outdoor Life,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His production, measured by EPA per start on pass plays and QB rushes, ranks second among 33 qualifying quarterbacks (minimum three starts) this season, per TruMedia.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Cupertino famously serves as a hub for the tech juggernaut Apple and ranks among the wealthiest cities in the county, with a median household income of $231,139 according to the 2023 data from the US Census.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There isn’t a ton of video footage of him, but there’s this interview with Robert Ressler and some of that is in the Peacock documentary.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
-
So, because of that, there is some gaging and figuring out to do.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Center for Renewing America fellows had written two more chapters in the report.—
Andy Kroll,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Center for Renewing America fellows had written two more chapters in the report.—
Andy Kroll,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grades. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share