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

Noun 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Last year’s national jobless rate of 3.2 percent is nearly half of 6 percent seen in 1980-2019. Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 The tough love comes amid a City of Miami Beach breakup campaign that includes hefty fines, curfews, bag checks, restricted beach access, DUI checkpoints, $100 parking fees and nonresident towing rates of more than $500. Carlos Suarez, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 People are contagious up to four days before symptoms appear and the rate of complications is high, Bagdasarian said. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 The glaring disparities in HIV infection rates among Black women underscore the pressing need for targeted interventions and equitable access to healthcare resources. Larada Lee, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 Activities that come with an extra fee (i.e., not included in the all-inclusive rate) range from a Hokkaido glasswork workshop to tours of Otaru, the nearby seaside town with a rich artistic history. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2024 Still, the 2018-19 Kansas team didn’t take or make many 3-pointers either — Kansas ranked No. 275 in 3-point rate. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Among its responsibilities is approving policies, setting tuition rates and hiring chancellors. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 Several studies have found immigrants commit lower rates of crime than those born in the U.S., though groups that advocate for restrictive immigration policies dispute or dismiss those findings. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
Here are 4 telltale signs The Pinnacle West report to investors filed March 4 also cited the company’s balance-sheet strength, though the company’s debt is rated so-so, in the BBB+ range. The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024 The Athletic recently rated Thompson as the Lightning’s third-best prospect, and Tampa Bay’s prospect pool as the 29th-best in the NHL. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 The median ratio of operating expenses compared to total revenues for investment grade companies rated BBB- or higher rose to 83.7% in Q4 of 2023, up from 82.2% in the third quarter. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 The Academy Awards have long been a showcase for marketers, with the broadcast one of the few non-sports events to routinely rate among the most popular TV programs each year (the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the other big one). Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 On a national level, over half of voters rate the national economy as not so good or poor. Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 Methodology An online survey was conducted by third-party agency Proof Insights among Southern Living consumers, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South. Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Early enrollee Ny Carr - rated by 247 Sports as the No. 21 receiver and No. 98 overall prospect in the 2024 class - dove to catch a pass from Emory Williams, beating early enrollee safety Zaquan Patterson. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Mike McDaniel also scored highly, rated No. 8 out of 32 head coaches. Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 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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