equate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to regard, treat, or represent as equivalent.
We cannot equate the possession of wealth with goodness.
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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.
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to reduce to an average; make such correction or allowance in as will reduce to a common standard of comparison.
verb
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to make or regard as equivalent or similar, esp in order to compare or balance
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maths to indicate the equality of; form an equation from
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(intr) to be equal; correspond
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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equatesimple
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equatessimple
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have equatedperfect
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has equatedperfect
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am equatingprogressive
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are equatingprogressive
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is equatingprogressive
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have been equatingperfect progressive
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has been equatingperfect progressive
Past
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equatedsimple
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had equatedperfect
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was equatingprogressive
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were equatingprogressive
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had been equatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of equate
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin aequātus (past participle of aequāre to make equal), equivalent to aequ ( us ) equal + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
When you equate one thing with another, you say that they are both the same. You might equate indulging in a hot fudge sundae with giving up on your body entirely, but I would disagree. To equate means to make things equal, and it’s a useful word because this is something people do all the time. They equate strong political views with fascism, they equate having lots of money with good taste, and they equate popularity with goodness. Remember, though, that just because you equate one thing with another does not mean that they really are the same! As you have no doubt noticed, equate has the Latin root equ that means "equal, level," so look there if you need a reminder as to its meaning.
Vocabulary lists containing equate
Far from the Tree
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Carl Reiner (1922–2020) Tribute List
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"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The presence or absence of a hit in database searches does not equate to fraud.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
The root problem, Müller said, is that Germans equate money to safety, and the thought of parting with it leaves people paralyzed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, previously said the measures would lead to some savings, but estimated they would equate to an "average saving of around £10 per UK household".
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026
To equate discomfort and/or brief awkwardness with artistic inferiority is a losing game for those who claim to love movies.
From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026
I knew it was an honest mistake for people to equate my career as a member of Team USA with Olympic stature.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
