rate

[ reyt ]

/ reɪt /

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See synonyms for: rate / rated / rates / rating on Thesaurus.com

noun

the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation: a high rate of interest on loans.

a certain quantity or amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing and used as a standard or measure: at the rate of 60 miles an hour.

a fixed charge per unit of quantity: a rate of 10 cents a pound.

price; cost: to cut rates on all home furnishings.

degree of speed, progress, etc.: to work at a rapid rate.

degree or comparative extent of action or procedure: the rate of increase in work output.

relative condition or quality; grade, class, or sort.

assigned position in any of a series of graded classes; rating.

Insurance. the premium charge per unit of insurance.

a charge by a common carrier for transportation, sometimes including certain services involved in rendering such transportation.

a wage paid on a specified time basis: a salary figured on an hourly rate.

a charge or price established in accordance with a scale or standard: hotel rates based on length of stay.

Horology. the relative adherence of a timepiece to perfect timekeeping, measured in terms of the amount of time gained or lost within a certain period.

Usually rates. British.

a tax on property for some local purpose.
any tax assessed and paid to a local government, as any city tax or district tax.

verb (used with object), rat·ed, rat·ing.

to estimate the value or worth of; appraise: to rate a student's class performance.

to esteem, consider, or account: He was rated one of the best writers around.

to fix at a certain rate, as of charge or payment.

to value for purposes of taxation or the like.

to make subject to the payment of a certain rate or tax.

to place in a certain rank, class, etc., as a ship or a sailor; give a specific rating to.

to be considered or treated as worthy of; merit: an event that doesn't even rate a mention in most histories of the period.

to arrange for the conveyance of (goods) at a certain rate.

verb (used without object), rat·ed, rat·ing.

to have value, standing, etc.: a performance that didn't rate very high in the competition.

to have position in a certain class.

to rank very high in estimation: The new teacher really rates with our class.

OTHER WORDS FOR rate

5 pace; tempo.

15 rank, classify, measure.

See synonyms for rate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about rate

at any rate,

in any event; in any case.
at least: It was a mediocre film, but at any rate there was one outstanding individual performance.

Origin of rate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English noun rate “monetary amount, value, estimated amount, proportional part,” from Old French rate and Medieval Latin rata, from Latin (prō) ratā (parte) “(according to) an estimated (part),” ratā ablative singular of rata, feminine of ratus, past participle of rērī “to judge”; verb derivative of the noun

Words nearby rate

ratchet, ratchet effect, ratchet jack, ratchet wheel, rat claw foot, rate, rateable, rate base, rate-cap, rate card, rated load

Other definitions for rate (2 of 2)

rate²

[ reyt ]

/ reɪt /

verb (used with or without object), rat·ed, rat·ing.

to chide vehemently; scold.

Origin of rate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English raten, araten; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Norwegian rata “to reject, cast aside”; or from Old French rateir, raiter, reter “to find fault with, blame”

OTHER WORDS FROM rate

rater, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rate in a sentence

If Republican-run Mississippi, with its Covid-19 death rate of 93 per 100,000, was a country, it would be in the top three globally, after San Marino and Peru.
Trump says US Covid-19 deaths would be low if you excluded blue states. That’s wrong.|German Lopez|September 17, 2020|Vox
Founders Pledge estimates that a donation to this group would avert CO2 at a rate of $1 per metric ton.
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.|Sigal Samuel|September 17, 2020|Vox
Publishers are broadly seeing upticks in programmatic ads rates over the last two months.
‘We’re about hiring journalists’: Insider Inc. launches third global news hub in Singapore|Lucinda Southern|September 17, 2020|Digiday
The region will fall to the worst tier of the state’s reopening system if the high rate continues for another week.
North County Report: Schools Are Reopening for Students Most in Need|Kayla Jimenez|September 16, 2020|Voice of San Diego

San Diego County’s coronavirus case rate is now surging, thanks in part to rising cases at San Diego State University.
North County Report: Schools Are Reopening for Students Most in Need|Kayla Jimenez|September 16, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Historically the reelection rate for members of Congress is in the area of 95 percent.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With a mortality rate of 70 percent, the more cases that arise, the deadlier this epidemic becomes.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The accident rate in Asia has marred what was in 2014 a banner year for aviation safety.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At any rate, policy can enforce equal rights and foster equal opportunity.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Albuquerque Economic Development, a private non-profit, estimates the five year growth rate at almost double the U.S. in general.
After The Fall: Introducing The Anti-Villain|Rich Goldstein|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In future years the poor-rate (so-called) will include, in addition to these, all other rates levyable by the Corporation.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
At any rate his stirring advice and the dispatches he brought roused the military authorities at Meerut into activity.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
If we turn again in a new direction, it will at any rate not be in the direction of a return to autocratic mediævalism.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Of course he was contemplating the application of a "two year old hickory," as he went on at the rate of two forty.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
His arm was drawn around the drum, and finally his whole body was drawn over the shaft, at a fearful rate.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for rate (1 of 2)

rate¹

/ (reɪt) /

noun

a quantity or amount considered in relation to or measured against another quantity or amounta rate of 70 miles an hour

a price or charge with reference to a standard or scalerate of interest; rate of discount
(as modifier)a rate card

a charge made per unit for a commodity, service, etc

See rates

the relative speed of progress or change of something variable; pacehe works at a great rate; the rate of production has doubled

relative quality; class or grade
(in combination)first-rate ideas

statistics a measure of the frequency of occurrence of a given event, such as births and deaths, usually expressed as the number of times the event occurs for every thousand of the total population considered

a wage calculated against a unit of time

the amount of gain or loss of a timepiece

at any rate in any case; at all events; anyway

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr) to assign or receive a position on a scale of relative values; rankhe is rated fifth in the world

to estimate the value of; evaluatewe rate your services highly

to be worthy of; deservethis hotel does not rate four stars

to consider; regardI rate him among my friends

British to assess the value of (property) for the purpose of local taxation

slang to think highly ofthe clients do not rate the new system

Word Origin for rate

C15: from Old French, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin prō ratā parte according to a fixed proportion, from ratus fixed, from rērī to think, decide

British Dictionary definitions for rate (2 of 2)

rate²

/ (reɪt) /

verb

(tr) to scold or criticize severely; rebuke harshly

Word Origin for rate

C14: perhaps related to Swedish rata to chide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with rate

rate

see at any rate; at this rate; x-rated.

rate

OTHER WORDS FOR rate

Idioms about rate

Origin of rate

Words nearby rate

Other definitions for rate (2 of 2)

Origin of rate

OTHER WORDS FROM rate

Words related to rate

How to use rate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rate (1 of 2)

Word Origin for rate

British Dictionary definitions for rate (2 of 2)

Word Origin for rate

Other Idioms and Phrases with rate