ranking

[rang-king]

adjective

1. senior or superior in rank, position, etc..

   a ranking diplomat.

2. prominent or highly regarded.

   a ranking authority on Soviet affairs.

3. occupying a specific rank, position, etc. (often used in combination).

   a low-ranking executive.

noun

1. an act or instance of indicating relative standing.

2. a list showing such standing.

ranking

/ ˈræŋkɪŋ /

adjective

1. prominent; high ranking

2. slang,  possessed of style; fashionable; exciting

noun

1. a position on a scale; rating

   a ranking in a tennis tournament

Word History and Origins

Origin of ranking¹

First recorded in 1860–65; rank ¹ + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

But his teams are known for being well-rounded — James Madison averages 37.8 points, ranking No. 10 nationally, while giving up 16 points, also ranking No. 10.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The three Israeli arms companies in the ranking accounted for more than half of that, as their combined revenues grew by 16 percent to $16.2 billion.

Read more on Barron's

A look at The Times’ top 25 boys’ basketball rankings for the Southland after Week 2.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But the rankings don’t reflect the caliber of students a college admits, nor graduate outcomes that matter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That win at least kept Wales in the top 12 in the world rankings before the draw for the 2027 World Cup is made next Wednesday.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• extent 
• proportion 
• range 
• rate 
• ratio 
• scope 
• system