rating

noun

rat·​ing ˈrā-tiŋ 

1

: a classification according to grade

specifically : a military or naval specialist classification

2

chiefly British : a naval enlisted man

3

a

: relative estimate or evaluation : standing

the school has a good academic rating

b

: an estimate of an individual's or business's credit and responsibility

c

: an estimate of the percentage of the public listening to or viewing a particular radio or television program

4

: a stated operating limit of a machine expressible in power units (such as kilowatts of a direct-current generator) or in characteristics (such as voltage)

Examples of rating in a Sentence

The school has an above-average academic rating.

The article compares the fuel-economy ratings of various cars.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Moab 3 debuted in the fall of 2022 and has so far racked up more than 1,300 five-star ratings at Amazon, with more than 200 pairs purchased just last month (that’s at least six pairs daily!). —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2024

The pants have earned tons of positive ratings, along with a spot on the best-seller list for their category. —Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 26 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rating

• approval rating
• credit rating
• Q rating
• self-rating

Kids Definition

rating

noun

rat·​ing

ˈrāt-iŋ

: a position within a grading system

credit rating