Definition

1. Noun:

   • A measure, quantity, or frequency in relation to another unit: A rate expresses a proportion, ratio, or speed, often measured per unit of time or another standard.
   • A fixed price or charge: A rate can refer to a specific amount of payment or cost for a service or commodity.
   • A level of quality, rank, or class: A rate can denote a position in a scale or hierarchy.

2. Verb:

   • To assign a value, rank, or score: To rate something is to evaluate or judge its quality, importance, or performance.
   • To deserve or merit a particular rank or treatment: To be considered worthy of a specific classification or estimation.
   • To scold or reprimand severely (archaic/less common): To berate someone angrily.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The city has a high crime rate. (The frequency of crime relative to the population is high.)
  • What is the hourly rate for this service? (What is the fixed price charged for each hour of work?)
  • She stayed in a first-rate hotel. (She stayed in a hotel of the highest class.)

• Verb:

  • Critics rate this film as one of the best of the year. (Critics evaluate and rank this film highly.)
  • This issue rates high on our list of priorities. (This issue deserves to be considered very important.)
  • The coach rated the player for his lack of effort. (The coach scolded the player angrily for his poor effort.)

Advanced Usage

• "At any rate": Used to mean "in any case" or "whatever happens," often to introduce a concluding or clarifying statement.
  • The plan is risky, but at any rate, we must try.
• "At this/that rate": Used to comment on the current situation and its likely outcome if it continues.
  • At this rate, we'll never finish on time.
• "Second-rate": Of inferior quality or importance.
  • It was a second-rate imitation of the original design.

Variants and Related Words

• Rating (n): A classification or ranking based on quality; a measurement of performance.
  • The show has a high audience rating.
• Underrate (v): To underestimate the value, ability, or importance of someone or something.
  • He is a talented writer who is often underrated.
• Overrate (v): To have too high an opinion of; to overestimate.
  • I think that restaurant is overrated.

Synonyms

• Noun: Proportion, ratio, speed, pace, price, charge, grade, rank.
• Verb: Evaluate, assess, rank, classify, esteem, berate, scold.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Rate against: To compare or judge in relation to something else.
  • How do you rate this candidate against the others?
• Rate as: To consider or judge to be of a particular type or standard.
  • I would rate him as an expert in his field.

Related Idioms

• Go at a rate of knots: To move or proceed very quickly.
  • The work was going at a rate of knots once the new team started.
• Rate of exchange: The value of one currency for the purpose of conversion to another.
  • We checked the rate of exchange before traveling.

Noun

1. 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
2. the relative speed of progress or change
   • he lived at a fast pace
   • he works at a great rate
   • the pace of events accelerated
3. amount of a charge or payment relative to some basis
   • a 10-minute phone call at that rate would cost $5
4. 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

Verb

1. estimate the value of
   • How would you rate his chances to become President?
   • Gold was rated highly among the Romans
2. be worthy of or have a certain rating
   • This bond rates highly
3. assign a rank or rating to
   • how would you rank these students?
   • The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide