1
as in to be
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes
my favorite pitcher ranks first in the league for number of consecutive outs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
most critics would rank him among our best actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
attained the highest rank in the Freemasons
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dignity
high position within society
remembered as a woman of rank who socialized only with other members of the elite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in category
usually ranks plural
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
this book will someday join the ranks of the world's great novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously
covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
smokes rank cigars that usually send me running for fresh air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obvious
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad
the article about fairy tales was full of rank errors, such as a reference to "Cinderella biting into the poisoned apple"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
a sidewalk sale of art works by rank amateurs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rank
Janey Tracey, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Magaziner, ranking member of the subcommittee, concurred.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Dec. 2024
Brendan Le, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Patel, who has called for shuttering the FBI’s headquarters in Washington and firing its top ranks, is picking up a lot of early Senate Republican support and appears to be cruising toward confirmation.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2024
The allure of freelancing, side hustling, and digital nomadism has created a thriving gig economy as younger generations increasingly rank fulfillment above traditional 9-to-5s.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rank 
Verb
Here is Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 25 best Hallmark Christmas movies, ranked.
—Janey Tracey, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Magaziner, ranking member of the subcommittee, concurred.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
Flaunting her marquise diamond ring in the cover photo, Gomez joins the ranks of ex-Disney and Nickelodeon acts like Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato who have revealed their sparkly new hardware on social media.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Patel, who has called for shuttering the FBI’s headquarters in Washington and firing its top ranks, is picking up a lot of early Senate Republican support and appears to be cruising toward confirmation.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Engelstad’s 72 victories rank as the fifth-most in school history.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2024
The allure of freelancing, side hustling, and digital nomadism has created a thriving gig economy as younger generations increasingly rank fulfillment above traditional 9-to-5s.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
-
Our vision is simply to be the most excellent Professional Publisher there is.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
-
There is deep anxiety here about the potentially devastating impacts of tariffs on an already sluggish economy that is heavily dependent on trade.Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the offensive on Damascus that forced Assad to flee, is classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States and other nations.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
-
For the moment, it’s classified as a technology stock.Bob Pisani, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The capital was followed by the state's second-largest city, Tucson, which cracked the top half of the ranking at No. 74.Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
-
The rankings exclude military academies and are limited to schools that participate in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, or FBS, which tend to attract top players.Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The outcome is a society in which the poor lack dignity and solidarity because they are caught in a system that pushes them to loathe their own situation rather than seek community assistance.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
-
How to think about human dignity Our greatest philosophers and spiritual thinkers have considered this same dilemma over the course of centuries.Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
There are no rows of resorts, high-end stores or major chains here, just one grocery store and a general store.Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024
-
Notre Dame sophomore Hannah Hidalgo had an elite performance against UConn for the second season in a row, finishing with a team-high 29 points plus 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Surveying 455 adults, with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percentage points, the poll only divided the age category into under and over 45 years old.Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 Dec. 2024
-
The original song category features 15 tracks culled from 89 submissions.Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The gap in information has left a void, being filled with rampant speculation, including outlandish conspiracy theories.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Worse, outsourcing has become rampant, with high-paying IT jobs migrating to countries like India and Eastern Europe.Joel Shulman, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019
-
Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019
Thesaurus Entries Near rank
Cite this Entry
“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share