rate
1 of 3noun
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 3verb (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 3verb (2)
rated; rating
transitive verb
1
: to rebuke angrily or violently
2
obsolete : to drive away by scolding
intransitive verb
: to voice angry reprimands
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
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
Kids Definition
rate 1 of 2
noun
ˈrāt
1
: a price or charge set according to a scale or standard
hotel rates
2
: the amount of something measured in units of something else or in comparison with others
I can walk at a rate of four miles per hour.
rate
2 of 2verb
rated; rating
1
: to be placed in comparison with others : rank
Our school rates high in math scores.
2
: consider sense 3, regard
You are rated an expert.
3
: to have a right to : deserve
He rates a promotion.
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
rates 1 of 3
noun
1
as in qualities
degree of excellence not being of the first rate, these apples are usually sold as food for livestock Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- qualities
- standards
- grades
- classes
- statures
- calibers
- calibres
- ranks
- benchmarks
- criteria
- hallmarks
- positions
- statuses
- measures
- places
- standings
- yardsticks
- criterions
- marks
- touchstones
- footings
- pars
2
as in ratios
the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things the exchange rate was 10 pesos to the dollar when we visited Mexico Synonyms & Similar Words
- ratios
- frequencies
- averages
- proportions
- percentages
- correspondences
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disproportions
rates
2 of 3verb (1)
1
as in deserves
to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) how does a summer intern rate a new computer when I've been told to make do with this clunker? Synonyms & Similar Words
- deserves
- merits
- earns
- qualifies
- entitles
2
as in estimates
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding nowadays most motorists would probably rate their cell phone as an "essential" piece of electronic equipment Synonyms & Similar Words
- estimates
- values
- assesses
- prices
- guesstimates
- evaluates
- appraises
- valuates
- sets
- analyzes
- tests
- surveys
- deems
- prizes
- judges
- adjudges
- determines
- assays
- ascertains
- learns
- discovers
- revalues
- transvalues
- underestimates
- reassesses
- reappraises
- decides
- reevaluates
- undervalues
- transvaluates
- misjudges
- rejudges
- misprizes
- misesteems
- settles
3
as in ranks
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes a restaurant that consistently rates high in all the standard categories Synonyms & Similar Words
- ranks
- is
- places
- grades
- stands
- groups
- seeds
- classes
- counts
- sorts
- classifies
- sets
- instates
- categorizes
- installs
- separates
- codifies
- compartmentalizes
4
as in regards
to think of in a particular way I would rate her my best friend; after all, she's always been there when I needed her Synonyms & Similar Words
- regards
- accounts
- views
- counts
- calls
- considers
- sets down
- takes for
- believes
- thinks
- reckons
- feels
- looks (on or upon)
- esteems
- holds
- deems
- senses
- fancies
- conceives
- imagines
rates
3 of 3verb (2)
as in lectures
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings a tyrannical father who usually spent most of dinnertime rating his children on their alleged multitude of failings Synonyms & Similar Words
- lectures
- scolds
- reprimands
- scores
- blames
- criticizes
- attacks
- jaws
- calls down
- bawls out
- dresses down
- rags
- lays into
- faults
- tongue-lashes
- keelhauls
- upbraids
- hammers
- rails (at or against)
- flays
- berates
- reads the riot act (to)
- rebukes
- mocks
- reams (out)
- chews out
- rants (at)
- admonishes
- bastes
- reproaches
- takes to task
- vituperates
- chastises
- lambastes
- abuses
- castigates
- lambasts
- pans
- reprehends
- blasts
- scourges
- condemns
- harangues
- knocks
- lashes
- slams
- ridicules
- chides
- assails
- remonstrates (with)
- excoriates
- censures
- crucifies
- denounces
- reproves
- reviles
- disparages
- belittles
- scoffs
- scorns
- bad-mouths
- laces (into)
- disses
- puts down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sanctions
- approves
- indorses
- endorses
- praises
- lauds
- extols
- extolls