rate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
    • they traveled at a rate of 55 miles per hour
    • the rate of change was faster than expected
  2. noun amount of a charge or payment relative to some basis
    charge per unit.
    • a 10-minute phone call at that rate would cost $5
  3. noun the relative speed of progress or change
    pace.
    • he lived at a fast pace
    • he works at a great rate
    • the pace of events accelerated
  4. noun a quantity or amount or measure considered as a proportion of another quantity or amount or measure
    • the literacy rate
    • the retention rate
    • the dropout rate
  5. verb assign a rank or rating to
    grade; range; rank; place; order.
    • how would you rank these students?
    • The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide
  6. verb be worthy of or have a certain rating
    • This bond rates highly
  7. verb estimate the value of
    value.
    • How would you rate his chances to become President?
    • Gold was rated highly among the Romans

WordNet

Rate transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
Perh. fr. E. rate, v. t., to value at a certain rate, to estimate, but more prob. fr. Sw. rata to find fault, to blame, to despise, to hold cheap; cf. Icel. hrat refuse, hrati rubbish.
Definitions
  1. To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently. Spencer.
    Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy! Shak.
    Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming them from it, and rating them for it. Barrow.
Rate noun
Etymology
OF., fr. L. rata (sc. pars), fr. ratus reckoned, fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri to reckon, to calculate. Cf. Reason.
Definitions
  1. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance.
    The one right feeble through the evil rate, Of food which in her duress she had found. Spenser.
  2. That which is established as a measure or criterion; degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of the interest to the principal, per annum.
    Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was different from what it is nowadays. South.
    In this did his holiness and godliness appear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so . . . merciful. Calamy.
    Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor come up soon enough. Clarendon.
  3. Variation; prise fixed with relation to a standard; cost; charge; as, high or low rates of transportation.
    They come at dear rates from Japan. Locke.
  4. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a local tax; as, parish rates; town rates.
  5. Order; arrangement. Obs.
    Thus sat they all around in seemly rate. Spenser.
  6. Ratification; approval. R. Chapman.
  7. (Horol.) The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time; as, daily rate; hourly rate; etc.
  8. (Naut.) (a) The order or class to which a war vessel belongs, determined according to its size, armament, etc.; as, first rate, second rate, etc. (b) The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance, determined by its relative safety as a risk, as A1, A2, etc.
Rate transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Rated; present participle & verbal noun Rating
Definitions
  1. To set a certain estimate on; to value at a certain price or degree.
    To rate a man by the nature of his companions is a rule frequent indeed, but not infallible. South.
    You seem not high enough your joys to rate. Dryden.
  2. To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.
  3. To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a seaman; to rate a pension.
  4. To ratify. Obs. "To rate the truce." Chapman. Syn. -- To value; appraise; estimate; reckon.
Rate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; as, the ship rates as a ship of the line.
  2. To make an estimate.

Webster 1913