Word
Definitions
01a part of 100
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Mathematics
n. a number or rate that shows how much of something there is out of every 100.
n. a rate, number, or amount in each hundred; a proportion of a total expressed as a fraction of 100.
日本語:割合※
“A high percentage of the students passed the final exam with top marks.”
“The report indicates that a significant percentage of the local population remains underserved by the current public transport infrastructure.”
Usage
Often used with 'of' followed by a noun phrase; the verb agreement typically matches the noun following 'of'.
Pitfall
A large percentage of students is absent.
A large percentage of students are absent.
When 'percentage of' is followed by a plural noun, the verb should also be plural.
Synonyms
02a share of money
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a share of the money made from a sale or a business deal.
n. an allowance, commission, or share of profits or gross receipts.
日本語:歩合※
“The salesperson gets a small percentage of every car they sell.”
“The author negotiated a higher percentage of the digital sales as part of her new contract with the publishing house.”
Synonyms
03benefit or advantage
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Informal
n. the personal advantage or profit you might get from a situation.
n. the likelihood of profit, advantage, or success in a particular course of action.
“I don't see much percentage in arguing with him when he's in a bad mood.”
“The veteran gambler knew there was no percentage in playing against the house when the odds were so heavily stacked against him.”
Teaching tip
This sense is relatively rare in modern speech and is mostly found in older literature or specific idioms like 'there is no percentage in...'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “percentage” in context.
Adjective
01. average percentage
“The average percentage of students passing the exam has improved this year.”
adj + noun
02. greater percentage
“A greater percentage of people are now working from home than in the past.”
adj + noun
03. high percentage
“A high percentage of the population voted in the recent election.”
adj + noun
04. higher percentage
“We need to achieve a higher percentage of sales to meet our targets.”
adj + noun
05. highest percentage
“This city has the highest percentage of green spaces in the country.”
adj + noun
06. large percentage
“A large percentage of our budget is spent on marketing.”
adj + noun
07. larger percentage
“A larger percentage of the profit will be donated to charity this year.”
adj + noun
08. largest percentage
“The largest percentage of visitors comes from Europe.”
adj + noun
09. low percentage
“Only a low percentage of applicants were accepted into the program.”
adj + noun
10. lower percentage
“The new model uses a lower percentage of electricity.”
adj + noun
11. mean percentage
“The mean percentage was calculated by adding all the scores together.”
adj + noun
12. percentage points
Etymology
From percent, from Latin per centum (“for every hundred”), + -age (suffix indicating a rate).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/percentage
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0