rate

1 of 3

noun

ˈrāt 

1

a

: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else

her typing rate was 80 words per minute

b

: an amount of payment or charge based on another amount

specifically : the amount of premium per unit of insurance

2

a

: a charge, payment, or price fixed according to a ratio, scale, or standard: such as

(1)

: a charge per unit of a public-service commodity

(2)

: a charge per unit of freight or passenger service

(3)

: a unit charge or ratio used in assessing property taxes

(4)

British : a local tax

b

: a fixed ratio between two things

3

a

: reckoned value : valuation

b

obsolete : estimation

4

: relative condition or quality : class

5

obsolete : a fixed quantity

rate

2 of 3

verb (1)

rated; rating

transitive verb

1

a

: to set an estimate on : value, esteem

talents that are rated highly

b

: to determine or assign the relative rank or class of : grade

rate a seaman

c

: to estimate the normal capacity or power of

2

: consider, regard

was rated an excellent pianist

3

: to have a right to : deserve

she rated special privileges

4

: to fix the amount of premium to be charged per unit of insurance on

5

obsolete : allot

intransitive verb

: to enjoy a status of special privilege

really rates with the boss

rate

3 of 3

verb (2)

rated; rating

transitive verb

1

: to rebuke angrily or violently

2

obsolete : to drive away by scolding

intransitive verb

: to voice angry reprimands

Phrases

at any rate

: in any case : anyway

Synonyms

Noun

• caliber
• calibre
• class
• grade
• quality

Verb (1)

• deserve
• earn
• merit

Verb (2)

• baste
• bawl out
• berate
• call down
• castigate
• chastise
• chew out
• dress down
• flay
• hammer
• jaw
• keelhaul
• lambaste
• lambast
• lecture
• rag
• rail (at or against)
• rant (at)
• ream (out)
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• score
• tongue-lash
• upbraid

Choose the Right Synonym for rate

estimate, appraise, evaluate, value, rate, assess mean to judge something with respect to its worth or significance.

estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

Examples of rate in a Sentence

Noun

The cold weather meant a slower growing rate for many crops.

At the rate we're moving, it will be morning before we arrive.

People work at different rates.

Gun violence is increasing at an alarming rate.

Snow was falling at a rate of three inches per hour.

There has been a fall in the rate of inflation.

Crime rates have declined in recent years.

What's the interest rate on the loan?

Regular admission to the theater is $12, the student rate is $8, and the rate for senior citizens is $6.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That wasn’t exactly a shock considering the companies tend to do poorly during periods of persistently high interest rates. —Natalia Kniazhevich, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024

While it is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged in its decision on Wednesday, investors will watch a news conference with Powell closely for hints about how long rates are likely to stay on hold. —Christopher Rugaber The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 27 Apr. 2024

This year, rates are projected to increase by another 6%. —Sara B. Hansen, The Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2024

But some economists have begun to question just how restrictive the Fed’s current rate setting is, because growth has remained solid and hiring rapid even after months of relatively high rates. —Ben Casselman, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Those high interest rates recently hobbled one fractional company. —Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 26 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile the higher interest rates needed to squeeze out inflation aren’t just bad for Americans as home buyers. —The Editors, National Review, 26 Apr. 2024

The high interest rates make borrowing more expensive for consumers and businesses, placing downward pressure on the economy. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024

As interest rates rise, that unfamiliarly high figure has started to spook analysts. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 Apr. 2024

Verb

As for power, the yacht is fitted with twin MTU engines rated at 2,638 hp, which give it a top speed of 21.5 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024

McCormick was very limited as a receiver and didn’t block nearly as well as perceived, according to PFF, which rated him Miami’s worst player on offense overall last season. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024

Yet, a larger share of voters see Mr. Trump’s term as better for the country than the current administration, with 42 percent rating the Trump presidency as mostly good for the country compared with 25 percent who say the same about Mr. Biden’s. —Ruth Igielnik, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024

Collectors pay companies such as PSA to rate the quality of the card and preserve it in plastic. —Caitlin Clark, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024

Golden State’s defense is rated slightly worse, but has been elite since Trayce Jackson-Davis joined Green in the starting lineup (fourth in the last nine games). —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

Nearby Lake Charles, two tornadoes hit Cameron Parish, Lousiana, Wednesday, both rated EF-1 with maximum winds of 100 mph. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024

Their mission was to taste the dish at all the restaurants in Bari that served it, with a rigorous scoring system that rated each version on crunch, spice, and char. —Dan Pashman, Saveur, 11 Apr. 2024

It’s rated for all weather and winds up to 30 knots. —Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin (pro) rata (parte) according to a fixed proportion

Verb (2)

Middle English

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing rate

• adjustable rate mortgage
• at any rate
• at a rate of knots
• at this/that rate
• bank rate
• basal metabolic rate
• birth rate
• bit rate
• carload rate
• case fatality rate
• crude death rate
• cut-rate
• death rate
• discount rate
• exchange rate
• fatality rate
• first-rate
• going rate
• heart/pulse rate
• heart rate
• lapse rate
• mortality rate
• pay rate
• prime rate
• rate of change
• rate of exchange
• rate of pay
• second-rate
• tenth-rate
• third-rate
• variable rate mortgage

Kids Definition

rate

1 of 3 verb

ˈrāt 

rated; rating

: to scold violently : berate

rate

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a constant ratio between two things

a rate of exchange

b

: a price or charge set according to a scale or standard

hotel rates

tax rate

2

: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured in units of something else

the unemployment rate

3

: a level of quality : class

rate

3 of 3 verb

rated; rating

1

: consider sense 3, regard

was rated a good pianist

2

: to set an estimate on : evaluate

3

: to determine the rank, class, or position of : grade

rate a movie

4

: to have a rating : be classed

rates high in math

5

: to have a right to : deserve

rate a promotion

Etymology

Verb

Middle English raten "to scold violently"

Noun

Middle English rate "an estimated or determined value," from early French rate (same meaning), derived from Latin rata, literally, "fixed, determined," from (pro) rata (parte) "according to the fixed proportion"

Medical Definition

rate

noun

ˈrāt 

1

: a fixed ratio between two things

2

: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else see death rate, heart rate, metabolic rate, pulse rate, sedimentation rate

Legal Definition

rate

noun

1

: a fixed ratio between two things

2

: a charge, payment, or price fixed according to a ratio, scale, or standard: as

a

: a charge per unit of a commodity provided by a public utility

b

: a charge per unit of freight or passenger service see also joint rate

c

: a unit charge or ratio used in assessing property taxes

3

a

: a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else

b

: an amount of payment or charge based on another amount

specifically : the amount of premium per unit of insurance

rate transitive verb