equate

[ih-kweyt]

verb (used with object)

equated, equating 

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

Other Word Forms

• equatability noun
• equatable adjective
• unequated 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

Few dispute that a drop in elevation equates to a faster run.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 2024 fires released an estimated 791 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which roughly equates to the annual emissions of Germany.

Read more on Science Daily

Badenoch will say Labour's economic plans are "not sustainable" and equate government borrowing to "stealing from our children and grandchildren".

Read more on BBC

They continue to worry that the new law will chill discussion of controversial issues in ethnic studies and elsewhere — and also falsely equate legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the same time Rather’s controversial reporting was challenging a sitting president, Weiss led a campus campaign designed to ruin the careers of Arab professors by equating their criticisms of Israel with anti-Semitism.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• associate 
• liken 
• relate