1
as in to be
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 to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
most critics would rank him among our best actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
attained the highest rank in the Freemasons
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dignity
high position within society
remembered as a woman of rank who socialized only with other members of the elite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in category
usually ranks plural
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
1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously
covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ripe
having an unpleasant smell
smokes rank cigars that usually send me running for fresh air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obvious
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad
the article about fairy tales was full of rank errors, such as a reference to "Cinderella biting into the poisoned apple"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
a sidewalk sale of art works by rank amateurs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rank
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Since then, Italy has consistently ranked among Maldives’ largest tourism markets.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Morgan Lee, Fortune, 15 May 2026
The Giants’ rookie manager, straight out of the college ranks, had a perfect, frictionless opportunity to establish his authority in a big-league clubhouse.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Cosby’s good guys do things that outpace the rankest villainy in the work of other crime writers.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank
Verb
With a dozen more projects on the way, the LNG export sector ranks with the AI/data center sector as two of America’s fastest-growing industries.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Since then, Italy has consistently ranked among Maldives’ largest tourism markets.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Noun
Gregg Hull, a former three-term mayor of Rio Rancho on the outskirts of Albuquerque, wants New Mexico to join the ranks of states with no personal income tax like Texas and Wyoming.
—Morgan Lee, Fortune, 15 May 2026
The Giants’ rookie manager, straight out of the college ranks, had a perfect, frictionless opportunity to establish his authority in a big-league clubhouse.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Adjective
Cultivate trusted cross-rank advocacy and networks to support junior employees.
—Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Cosby’s good guys do things that outpace the rankest villainy in the work of other crime writers.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
-
On one side there was a swing, a slide and a tricycle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
In addition to traditional treatments, there are holistic therapies like sound healing, Reiki, and shirodhara, an ancient Ayurvedic remedy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Another pair of wins from KPop Demon Hunters, which are attached to the evil boy band Saja Boys, cracked the top 10 as well, and several members – the group is made up of Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo and Samuil Lee – are usually classified as K-pop artists.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Final thoughts For context, my backyard sky falls somewhere between 7 and 8 on the Bortle scale, a nine-level system used by astronomers to classify the brightness of the night sky and the impact of light pollution.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
However, there is no definitive national ranking from 2013 showing Los Angeles and New York City tied as the safest big cities in the country.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
The slightly lower ranking came amid recent La Nina conditions, which typically cause a temporary dip in global average temperatures.—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The language of covenant, liberty, moral responsibility, human dignity, and redemption helped shape the nation’s moral imagination from the very beginning.—
Ari Berman,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Major League Baseball is grinding through its second month with the daily dignity of a sport that has not yet figured out how to make a Tuesday Marlins-Rockies game feel like a gender reveal.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
This is the Cavaliers’ first conference finals since 2018 (which was their last of four in a row) and their first without LeBron James since 1992.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Drake Baldwin, for the second night in a row, put the Braves (31-15) on the board first with a home run in the Braves’ first at-bat.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
There aren’t many historical comparisons for Bumila beyond the broader category of high school pitchers.—
Keith Law,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Even the most basic categories include a proper work setup, seating area, and oversized marble bathrooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
Even before auditions started, there’s been rampant speculation about who might wield Bond’s Walther PPK, with everyone from Jacob Elordi to Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumored to be in contention for the role.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
Dalila Santiago, a close friend and leader in López’s movement, said after rampant impunity in Honduras, Fúnez’s detention came as a shock.—
Marlon González,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The scam driving the narrative is a live one, featuring the Gowanus Canal, then New York City’s most polluted body of water and ripe for development, a few dozen blocks north of Little Odessa.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Refrigerating ripe bananas can slow further ripening for several days, though the peels may darken quickly.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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