rates 1 of 3

Definition of ratesnext
plural of rate
1
2
as in ratios
the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things the exchange rate was 10 pesos to the dollar when we visited Mexico

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rates

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of rate
1
as in deserves
to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) how does a summer intern rate a new computer when I've been told to make do with this clunker?

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in ranks
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes a restaurant that consistently rates high in all the standard categories

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in regards
to think of in a particular way I would rate her my best friend; after all, she's always been there when I needed her

Synonyms & Similar Words

rates

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of rate

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 rates
Noun
The Federal Reserve will announce its latest move on interest rates on Wednesday. Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026 Proposals to cap credit card interest rates are just such an example. Matthew Kandrach, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026 Interest rates, which affect the rate on auto loans, are starting to come down. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026 These recommendations are based, in part, on studies that have found higher relapse rates among those who stop taking the medication versus those who do not. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026 Looking at alternative health plan options Nationwide, base rates are rising. Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026 The Fed was trying to hold down long-term interest rates by buying $667 billion of long-term bonds and selling short-term ones. Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 This is not always the case, however, as rates, service quality, and coverage features often vary widely. Ethan M. Stone, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026 Housing prices will stay high too, as mortgage rates stay elevated compared to 2021 levels. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
The district has shifted from likely Republican to likely Democratic, according to Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a nonpartisan organization that rates House races. Mathew Miranda february 3, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026 Significantly, new head coach Liam Rosenior knows Sarr very well and rates the 20-year-old highly having worked with him while in charge of Strasbourg for the past 18 months. Simon Johnson, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026 The FoodHealth Score rates items from 1 to 100 based on their nutritional value. Philip Joens, Des Moines Register, 29 Jan. 2026 The team rates shots on a scale of 1-10, with an uncontested layup or a wide-open 3-pointer ranking at the top of the range. Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026 The Cook Political Report rates his seat as Solid Republican in the midterms, classifying it among the least competitive House races this year. Chantelle Lee, Time, 28 Jan. 2026 The contracts paid $385 to $650 an hour, rates many times higher than what they were paid as city employees to handle similar work. IndyStar, 27 Jan. 2026 Osborn still rates Southwest’s policy above other major airlines like Delta, United and American Airlines that do not offer refund options for booking an extra seat. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026 Those affiliates may charge the company rates far higher than what a typical third-party company would charge for those services. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rates
Noun
  • But with those demands, consumers demands may surpass manufacturers’ qualities, leaving consumers searching for the perfect fit.
    Marc D. Grasso, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The character of Mandakini required specific qualities that Rajamouli believes Chopra Jonas uniquely possesses.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Using only final outcomes—like edit rates or acceptance ratios—as proxies for engagement is insufficient.
    François Candelon, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
  • System-wide capital adequacy ratios remained above regulatory minimums only through regulatory forbearance that terminated in January 2026.
    Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The state spent more than $20 billion without uniform standards to measure effectiveness.
    Julie Watts, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • In Hong Kong, this positions MKS to contribute to the HKPMCC’s governance and system design, ensuring interoperability with global standards.
    Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rates. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

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