1
as in is
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes
my favorite pitcher ranks first in the league for number of consecutive outs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in groups
to arrange or assign according to type
most critics would rank him among our best actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in league
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
this book will someday join the ranks of the world's great novels
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 ranks
Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
While at Penn State, Trautwein, a former All-SEC performer for the Gators, recruited Miller out of Anna, Texas, as well as Hiller, who hails from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and ranks as the nation’s top interior line prospect.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Why Waynesville ranks high On the resulting list of readers’ choice award winners, Waynesville was the only place in North Carolina to earn a spot in the top 10.
—Simone Jasper
april 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
India ranks fourth, followed by Brazil.
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
The film ranks eighth on the global chart.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and backed by Lionsgate, Michael also marks the studio’s strongest debut since the pandemic and ranks among its top six openings of all time.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Osasuna has a goal differential of -2 for the season, which ranks eighth in the league.
—Data Skrive, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Sweeney’s scene reportedly featured her being dressed by Blunt’s character, who has risen the fashion ranks to head of Dior’s United States operation.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 4 May 2026
Some of the measures were put in place in recent months in the wake of the killing of a top general in December, which sparked a dispute in the top ranks of Russia’s security establishment, the report says.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Graham, a San Antonio native, began his NBA career with the Pelicans in 2011 as basketball operations intern and ascended through the ranks to become general manager in 2024.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Black households in particular have struggled for years to join the ranks of homeowners in large part because of the real estate industry.
—Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
The effect was to enhance the ranks of Black, Latino and Asian representatives in Congress and the state Capitol.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
The executive was first hired as head of marketing and merchandising before moving up the ranks over the past 12 years.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
Rob Carr / Getty Images Before starting her stable, DeVaux climbed her way up the ranks, beginning as a stable worker for the late Chuck Simon before becoming an assistant trainer for Chad Brown.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 3 May 2026
The map passed despite bipartisan opposition, including Republican legislators who broke ranks to vote against it.
—Jon Harris Maurer, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Verb
The Phillies fired Thomson as the team ranks last or in the bottom part of the league in several statistical categories, like run differential, ERA, batting average and OPS, largely with the same roster as the previous four seasons.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
While at Penn State, Trautwein, a former All-SEC performer for the Gators, recruited Miller out of Anna, Texas, as well as Hiller, who hails from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and ranks as the nation’s top interior line prospect.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Why Waynesville ranks high On the resulting list of readers’ choice award winners, Waynesville was the only place in North Carolina to earn a spot in the top 10.
—Simone Jasper
april 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
India ranks fourth, followed by Brazil.
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
The film ranks eighth on the global chart.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and backed by Lionsgate, Michael also marks the studio’s strongest debut since the pandemic and ranks among its top six openings of all time.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Osasuna has a goal differential of -2 for the season, which ranks eighth in the league.
—Data Skrive, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Sweeney’s scene reportedly featured her being dressed by Blunt’s character, who has risen the fashion ranks to head of Dior’s United States operation.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
Long-time Metro Transit police officer Joe Dotseth, who rose through the department’s ranks, became interim police chief when Morales left the department.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 4 May 2026
Some of the measures were put in place in recent months in the wake of the killing of a top general in December, which sparked a dispute in the top ranks of Russia’s security establishment, the report says.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Graham, a San Antonio native, began his NBA career with the Pelicans in 2011 as basketball operations intern and ascended through the ranks to become general manager in 2024.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Black households in particular have struggled for years to join the ranks of homeowners in large part because of the real estate industry.
—Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
The effect was to enhance the ranks of Black, Latino and Asian representatives in Congress and the state Capitol.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
The executive was first hired as head of marketing and merchandising before moving up the ranks over the past 12 years.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
Rob Carr / Getty Images Before starting her stable, DeVaux climbed her way up the ranks, beginning as a stable worker for the late Chuck Simon before becoming an assistant trainer for Chad Brown.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 3 May 2026
The map passed despite bipartisan opposition, including Republican legislators who broke ranks to vote against it.
—Jon Harris Maurer, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ranks
Verb
-
Ken Foster, a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, said there is typically a 3- to 6-month lag between an energy price shock and an increase in retail food prices.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
His public defender, Angelle Boudreaux, has argued in court papers that there is no basis to detain Marcoulier.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was big minor-league news, including Braden Montgomery’s next step and a setback for Shane Smith.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Banda scored again in the 39th minute to bring her league-leading total to seven goals.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
But gift cards are considered unsecured debt, which places them at the back of the line among the company's creditors.—
Joshua Sidorowicz,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
The election was called two years ahead of the constitutional deadline, and the win places Browne on path to become his twin-island nation’s longest-serving prime minister after first winning office in 2014.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The American Cancer Society has also expanded its guidelines and no longer automatically classifies someone who quit smoking more than 15 years ago as low-risk.—
Caleb Hellerman,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Globally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature also classifies polar bears as vulnerable.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Alex Brightman will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for Schmigadoon!—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
To do this well, consider Gallup’s four primary categories underpinning engagement.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race, one of the highest stakes of the 2026 midterms, as a toss-up.—
Brooke Migdon,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Tucci rates her mastery of the language very highly.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The move relegates longtime Renegades starter Luis Perez to the bench.—
José Sánchez Córdova,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Robby relegates Langdon to triage for now — there’s less of a chance the two will run into each other that way.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
The seniors were a very tight-knight group.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ranks. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
