rate 1 of 3

Definition of ratenext
1
as in quality
degree of excellence not being of the first rate, these apples are usually sold as food for livestock

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in ratio
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

rate

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to deserve
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 to rank
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 to consider
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

rate

3 of 3

verb (2)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rate are appraise, assess, estimate, evaluate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

When might appraise be a better fit than rate?

The words appraise and rate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When could assess be used to replace rate?

Although the words assess and rate have much in common, 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

When is estimate a more appropriate choice than rate?

The meanings of estimate and rate largely overlap; however, 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

When is it sensible to use evaluate instead of rate?

The synonyms evaluate and rate are sometimes interchangeable, but evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

How do value and appraise relate to one another, in the sense of rate?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

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 rate
Noun
The tool, developed by independent AI engineer Luke Geel, analyzes past results and players’ activity—from posture to blink rate—spotting connections that might be imperceptible to the average viewer but visible to top pros. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 July 2026 Prior to the release of Thursday's jobs report, markets had been giving a September rate hike a probability of around 65%. Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Verb
The Magic Keyboard is backlit, Touch Bar and Touch ID are built in, and battery life is rated up to 10 hours. New Atlas, 2 July 2026 My Sport Touring Hybrid AWD tester is rated for 40 miles per gallon in the city and 34 miles per gallon on the highway. Charles Singh, USA Today, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rate
Noun
  • Persistent fatigue despite adequate sleep, dizziness, breathlessness, brain fog, low mood, brittle nails, hair fall, feeling unusually cold, and changes in skin quality all signal low ferritin levels.
    Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 30 June 2026
  • The goal is to build higher quality affordable housing by using efficient construction methods Jamison has learned through building more than 8,000 market-rate apartments in the past, Lee said.
    Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • The report found that all institutions operated with a ratio of more than 100 inmates per officer, which undermined staff’s ability to respond to incidents at the facilities.
    Theodore Rose, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026
  • Until this month, there were no staffing ratios for nurses in locked psychiatric hospitals.
    Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Three Asian sides made the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup and so AFC has dropped off since then, even if the last two standing deserve respect in the round of 32.
    Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • Not because a new appendix deserves a barnstorming tour, or because county unemployment data has suddenly become beach reading.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • People magazine at the time estimated the wedding cost $1 million and noted the event included four bands and a fireworks show.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Just as high school and college graduates hit the job market this summer, a research initiative has released a pair of Top 10 lists that rank the best employers for new grads seeking first jobs.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • Among Japanese prefectures, Okinawa ranks first in consumption of KFC and last in consumption of seafood, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens—its residents have Japan’s highest average body-mass index.
    Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Aid groups consider the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster to be the most critical window for finding survivors, though access to food and water can extend that period.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2026
  • Should Portugal have rested Ronaldo against Colombia, considering Portugal entered Saturday’s match already assured of advancing to the knockout stage?
    Anthony Chiang June 27, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Justice Barrett actually sounded kind of sharp, almost scolding, in the opinion in her criticism of the assertions made by the plaintiffs and some of the justices in the minority.
    John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Pediatric surgeons earn $450,810 a year, on average, as of 2024, according to federal data.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Recognizing her extraordinary intellect, the Wheatley family educated her, and by age 20 her poetry had earned publication in London.
    Robin Follman, Oc Register, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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