rating

¹ American  

[rey-ting] / ˈreɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. classification according to grade or rank.

2. assigned position in a particular class or grade, or relative standing, as of a ship or a member of the armed forces.

3. the credit standing of a person or firm.

4. Radio, Television. a percentage indicating the number of listeners to or viewers of a specific program.

5. a designated operating limit for a machine, apparatus, etc., as of voltage, load, or frequency, based on specified conditions.

6. an amount fixed as a rate.

7. British. apportioning of a tax.

8. Chiefly British. one of the enlisted personnel in the British navy.

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rating ² American  

[rey-ting] / ˈreɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. an angry reprimand or rebuke; scolding.

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rating ¹ British  

/ ˈreɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. a classification according to order or grade; ranking

2. (in certain navies) a sailor who holds neither commissioned nor warrant rank; an ordinary seaman

3. sailing a handicap assigned to a racing boat based on its dimensions, sail area, weight, draught, etc

4. the estimated financial or credit standing of a business enterprise or individual

5. radio television a figure based on statistical sampling indicating what proportion of the total listening and viewing audience tune in to a specific programme or network

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rating ² British  

/ ˈreɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. a sharp scolding or rebuke

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Etymology

Origin of rating¹

First recorded in 1525–35; rat(e) ¹ + -ing ¹

Origin of rating²

First recorded in 1570–80; rat(e) ² + -ing ¹

Explanation

A rating is a valuation or rank on a scale. Hotels are often ranked from zero to five stars, so a fancy hotel with loads of amenities (like a pool and plush bathrobes) will usually have a five-star rating. A movie gets a rating based on which audience it’s appropriate for – as in, rated G for kids or rated R for adults. When a TV show gets good ratings, then a lot of people watch it. Before you buy an expensive item, like a bike or an appliance, you can read its ratings online, and once you've tried it out, you can provide your own rating.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rating

Since the disclosures, rating agencies Fitch, AM Best and S&P Global have downgraded the companies’ outlook to negative, but they also have said the insurers maintain a high level of financial strength.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

He anticipates cutting his earnings estimates after meeting China Aviation’s management on Tuesday, and is reviewing the stock’s buy rating and target price of 2.50 Singapore dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

They maintain a neutral rating on the stock despite what they tell clients in a note is a strong fiscal 2026 performance on costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Fitch Ratings recently moved the credit rating of the project’s $1.2-billion senior bond to its negative watch list.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

But never mind: The rating agencies, who were paid fat fees by Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms for each deal they rated, pronounced 80 percent of the new tower of debt triple-A.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• appraisal
• assessment
• category
• valuation