rate

1 of 3

noun

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

rate

2 of 3

verb (1)

rated; rating

transitive verb

1
a
: to set an estimate on : value, esteem
talents that are rated highly
b
: to determine or assign the relative rank or class of : grade
rate a seaman
c
: to estimate the normal capacity or power of
2
: consider, regard
was rated an excellent pianist
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

intransitive verb

: to enjoy a status of special privilege
really rates with the boss

rate

3 of 3

verb (2)

rated; rating

transitive verb

1
: to rebuke angrily or violently
2
obsolete : to drive away by scolding

intransitive verb

: to voice angry reprimands
Phrases
at any rate
: in any case : anyway
Choose the Right Synonym for rate

estimate, appraise, evaluate, value, rate, assess mean to judge something with respect to its worth or significance.

estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

Examples of rate in a Sentence

Verb (1) how does a summer intern rate a new computer when I've been told to make do with this clunker? nowadays most motorists would probably rate their cell phone as an "essential" piece of electronic equipment a restaurant that consistently rates high in all the standard categories I would rate her my best friend; after all, she's always been there when I needed her 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. Verb (2) a tyrannical father who usually spent most of dinnertime rating his children on their alleged multitude of failings
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Schools that are marked for potential closure or merger are all seeing declining enrollment, low utilization rates and are located within one mile of another underused school, Perkins Eastman has said. Cleo Krejci, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024 The Fed, which cut rates in September for the first time since 2020 - by a hefty half percentage point - amid slowing inflation and job growth worries, is expected to lower rates again next week and in the months ahead. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
These workers routinely rate their enterprise software (e.g., Concur, Teams, and Workday) poorly and, like clinicians, frequently work at night and on weekends. Spencer Dorn, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 The Cook Political Report, an independent election analysis newsletter, rated how each district would lean before every election back to 1984. Alex Golden, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rate 

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

Dictionary Entries Near rate

Cite this Entry

“Rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rate. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

rate

1 of 3 verb
rated; rating
: to scold violently : berate

rate

2 of 3 noun
1
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

noun
1
: 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

noun
1
: 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

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