Word
equate
US/ɪˈkweɪt/
UK/ɪkwˈeɪt/
Definitions
01to consider as equal
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
v. to think that two things are the same or have the same importance.
v. to consider or describe one thing as being equivalent to another. Often used in the passive voice or with the preposition 'with'.
“Many people equate wealth with happiness, but that is not always true.”
“The report warns against the tendency to equate high test scores exclusively with academic intelligence, ignoring other vital cognitive skills.”
Usage
Commonly used in the pattern 'equate X with Y'.
Pitfall
You cannot equate this situation to that one.
You cannot equate this situation with that one.
While 'to' is sometimes used, 'equate with' is the standard academic collocation for comparing two things.
Antonyms
02to make equal
C1 · Advanced Mathematics Technical · Formal
v. to make two things equal in size, amount, or value.
v. to make two or more quantities or entities equal. This sense is frequently used in mathematical or technical contexts.
“The new law aims to equate the rights of part-time and full-time workers.”
“In the final step of the proof, the mathematician had to equate the two variables to solve for the unknown constant.”
Usage
Often used as a transitive verb taking a direct object.
03programming command
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a command in computer code that gives a name to a specific number or value.
n. a statement in assembly language that defines a symbol as having a specific value. This is a highly specialized technical term.
“The programmer used an equate to define the memory address for the screen.”
“By using an equate for the port address, the developer made the assembly code much easier to read and maintain.”
Usage
Used as a countable noun in low-level programming contexts.
Teaching tip
This sense is very rare outside of assembly language programming; general learners should focus on the verb forms.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Poor outcomes do not necessarily equate to poor care.” “She has also exposed the vast profit made by private accommodation providers thanks to Home Office cash, such as Clearsprings, equating to £146 a minute over five years – yes, you read that right.” “Back then, light reading was suspect, with 19th-century clerics and cultural critics equating novel-reading with physical and moral debasement.” “This equates to less empty space and more targeted supplies.” Etymology
From Middle English equaten, from Latin aequātus, perfect passive participle of aequō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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