rating

UK: /ˈreɪtɪŋ/ US: /ˈreɪtɪŋ/ ,(rā′ting)

From the verb rate: (⇒ conjugate)

rating is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rat•ing¹ /ˈreɪtɪŋ/   n. [countable]

1. position or level given to something in comparison to others:
   a good credit rating.
2. classification according to grade or rank, as in the navy.
3. Show Business a percentage indicating the number of listeners to or viewers of a radio or television broadcast:
   That show has great ratings.

See -ratio-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rat•ing¹  (rā′ting), n. 

1. classification according to grade or rank.
2. assigned position in a particular class or grade, or relative standing, as of a ship or a member of the armed forces.
3. the credit standing of a person or firm.
4. Show Business [Radio, Television.] a percentage indicating the number of listeners to or viewers of a specific program.
5. Mechanical Engineering a designated operating limit for a machine, apparatus, etc., as of voltage, load, or frequency, based on specified conditions.
6. an amount fixed as a rate.
7. British Terms apportioning of a tax.
8. British Terms, Military [Chiefly Brit.] one of the enlisted personnel in the British navy.

• rate¹ + -ing¹ 1525–35

rat•ing²  (rā′ting), n. 

1. an angry reprimand or rebuke;
   scolding.

• rate² + -ing¹ 1570–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rating / ˈreɪtɪŋ/ noun

1. a classification according to order or grade; ranking
2. (in certain navies) a sailor who holds neither commissioned nor warrant rank; an ordinary seaman
3. a handicap assigned to a racing boat based on its dimensions, sail area, weight, draught, etc
4. the estimated financial or credit standing of a business enterprise or individual
5. a figure based on statistical sampling indicating what proportion of the total listening and viewing audience tune in to a specific programme or network

rating / ˈreɪtɪŋ/ noun

1. a sharp scolding or rebuke

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rate¹ /reɪt/   n., v., rat•ed, rat•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of counting:
   a high rate of interest on loans.
2. a certain amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing:
   a rate of 10 cents a pound.
3. degree of speed or progress:
   to work at a rapid rate.

v. 

4. to estimate the value or worth of;
   consider: [~ + object]
   She is highly rated as a member of the department.
   [~ + object (+ as) + object]
   I would rate him (as) a fine teacher.
5. to be thought of as having value or standing:
   [no object] He felt he didn't rate with his friends.
6. to deserve or merit:
   [~ + object] That event does not even rate a footnote in the history of that era.

Idioms

7. Idioms at any rate:
   • in any event;
     in any case:
     At any rate, you survived.

See -ratio-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rate¹  (rāt), n., v., rat•ed, rat•ing. 
n. 

1. the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation:
   a high rate of interest on loans.
2. a certain quantity or amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing and used as a standard or measure:
   at the rate of 60 miles an hour.
3. a fixed charge per unit of quantity:
   a rate of 10 cents a pound.
4. price;
   cost:
   to cut rates on all home furnishings.
5. degree of speed, progress, etc.:
   to work at a rapid rate.
6. degree or comparative extent of action or procedure:
   the rate of increase in work output.
7. relative condition or quality;
   grade, class, or sort.
8. assigned position in any of a series of graded classes;
   rating.
9. Business [Insurance.] the premium charge per unit of insurance.
10. a charge by a common carrier for transportation, sometimes including certain services involved in rendering such transportation.
11. a wage paid on a specified time basis:
    a salary figured on an hourly rate.
12. a charge or price established in accordance with a scale or standard:
    hotel rates based on length of stay.
13. Time [Horol.] the relative adherence of a timepiece to perfect timekeeping, measured in terms of the amount of time gained or lost within a certain period.
14. British Terms Usually, rates. 
    • a tax on property for some local purpose.
    • any tax assessed and paid to a local government, as any city tax or district tax.
15. at any rate:
    • in any event;
      in any case.
    • at least:
      It was a mediocre film, but at any rate there was one outstanding individual performance.

v.t. 

16. to estimate the value or worth of;
    appraise:
    to rate a student's class performance.
17. to esteem, consider, or account:
    He was rated one of the best writers around.
18. to fix at a certain rate, as of charge or payment.
19. to value for purposes of taxation or the like.
20. to make subject to the payment of a certain rate or tax.
21. to place in a certain rank, class, etc., as a ship or a sailor;
    give a specific rating to.
22. to be considered or treated as worthy of;
    merit:
    an event that doesn't even rate a mention in most histories of the period.
23. to arrange for the conveyance of (goods) at a certain rate.

v.i. 

24. to have value, standing, etc.:
    a performance that didn't rate very high in the competition.
25. to have position in a certain class.
26. to rank very high in estimation:
    The new teacher really rates with our class.

• Latin (prō) ratā (parte) (according to) an estimated (part), ratā ablative singular of rata, feminine of ratus, past participle of rērī to judge; (verb, verbal) late Middle English raten to estimate the value (of ), derivative of the noun, nominal
• Medieval Latin rata
• (noun, nominal) late Middle English rate monetary value, estimated amount, proportional part 1375–1425

Synonyms

• 5. pace.
• 16. rank, classify, measure.

rate²  (rāt), v.t., v.i., rat•ed, rat•ing. 

1. to chide vehemently;
   scold.

• Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Norwegian rata to reject
• Middle English (a)raten, perh. 1350–1400

rat′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rate / reɪt/ noun

1. a quantity or amount considered in relation to or measured against another quantity or amount: a rate of 70 miles an hour
2. a price or charge with reference to a standard or scale: rate of interest, rate of discount
3. (as modifier): a rate card
4. a charge made per unit for a commodity, service, etc
5. See rates
6. the relative speed of progress or change of something variable; pace: he works at a great rate, the rate of production has doubled
7. relative quality; class or grade
8. (in combination): first-rate ideas
9. at any rate ⇒ in any case; at all events; anyway

verb (mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to assign or receive a position on a scale of relative values; rank: she is rated fifth in the world
2. to estimate the value of; evaluate: we rate your services highly
3. to be worthy of; deserve: this hotel does not rate four stars
4. to consider; regard: I rate them among my friends
5. to assess the value of (property) for the purpose of local taxation

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin prō ratā parte according to a fixed proportion, from ratus fixed, from rērī to think, decide

rate / reɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to scold or criticize severely; rebuke harshly

Etymology: 14th Century: perhaps related to Swedish rata to chide