equate

[ ih-kweyt ]

verb (used with object)

, e·quat·ed, e·quat·ing.

1. to regard, treat, or represent as equivalent:

   We cannot equate the possession of wealth with goodness.

2. to state the equality of or between; put in the form of an equation:

   to equate growing prosperity with the physical health of a nation.

3. to reduce to an average; make such correction or allowance in as will reduce to a common standard of comparison.

equate

/ ɪˈkweɪt /

verb

1. to make or regard as equivalent or similar, esp in order to compare or balance
2. maths to indicate the equality of; form an equation from
3. intr to be equal; correspond

Derived Forms

• eˈquatable, adjective
• eˌquataˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• e·quata·bili·ty noun
• e·quata·ble adjective
• une·quated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of equate¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin aequātus (past participle of aequāre to make equal), equivalent to aequ ( us ) equal + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of equate¹

C15: from Latin aequāre to make equal

Example Sentences

In August, a statement by National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina equated Russia’s interference efforts with those of China’s and Iran’s, and even put the China section first.

From Vox

The stereotypical nonprofit fundraiser equates to old-fashioned and expensive, with a seat at a table costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to swig Champagne with the barons of society.

From Fortune

So if a utility produces a million units of energy and emits 500,000 metric tons of carbon emissions in the process at the social cost of $50 per ton, that equates to $25 million more in fees on the power company.

From Voice of San Diego

Unfortunately, many business owners only equate their brand to its visual identity, its tagline, and its logo.

From Search Engine Watch

Even Vivek Murthy cautions against equating aloneness with loneliness.

From Freakonomics

There are those, however, who don't equate sangfroid and good manners with maturity.

From The Daily Beast

Does enjoying parties directly equate to being an expert in hosting one?

From The Daily Beast

In the marketing, or something as simple as a poster or a DVD cover or artwork, we even equate some of it with being on tour.

From The Daily Beast

Producers often tend to equate harder-hitting crime stories with a city setting – from Cracker and Prime Suspect to Luther.

From The Daily Beast

It may be hard to equate John Kerry now with the same man in 2004 and 1971.

From The Daily Beast

All at once every symbol was constant, static and livid upon the screen, enhanced by the words equate—complete—equate—complete.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a more serious difficulty that Paul knows of no Longobardic king with a name which we can equate with Sceaf.

From Project Gutenberg

Casembe sat before his hut on a equate seat placed on lion and leopard skins.

From Project Gutenberg

Thousands of differences perplex the attempt to equate the measure of moral desert to men.

From Project Gutenberg

Plato had the ideal of an education which should equate individual realization and social coherency and stability.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• associate
• liken
• relate