# rate

/ˈɹeɪt/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. speed or pace

noun · CEFR A2

the speed at which something happens or changes over a period of time.

For teachers: the relative speed of change, progress, or movement over a specific interval.

- The car was travelling at a very high rate of speed on the motorway.
- Economists are concerned that the current rate of inflation will erode the purchasing power of middle-income households by the end of the fiscal year.

### 2. price or charge

noun · CEFR B1

a fixed price for a service or a type of product.

For teachers: a set price or charge for a commodity or service, often calculated per unit.

- The hotel offers a special weekly rate for guests staying more than five nights.
- The consultancy firm increased its hourly rate to reflect the specialised expertise required for international tax litigation.

### 3. proportional measurement

noun · CEFR B1

a measurement of one thing compared to another.

For teachers: the proportional relationship between two different amounts or values.

- The local birth rate has stayed the same for the last three years.
- The central bank decided to maintain the interest rate at four percent to encourage domestic investment while stabilising the currency.

### 4. to evaluate

verb · CEFR B1

to judge how good or bad something is.

For teachers: to assign a value, rank, or level to something based on an evaluation of its quality.

- Users can rate the app from one to five stars in the store.
- Critics generally rate her early novels more highly than her later, more experimental works which many found inaccessible.

### 5. to think highly of

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to like someone or something very much.

For teachers: to regard someone or something as being of high quality or importance.

- I don't really rate that new restaurant; the food was quite bland.
- Although the director is popular with audiences, most serious film scholars don't really rate his contribution to the genre.

### 6. ship classification

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a class or rank given to a ship based on its size or strength.

For teachers: a classification for naval vessels based on their size, armament, or condition.

- The vessel was a first-rate ship of the line with over one hundred guns.
- During the Napoleonic Wars, the British Admiralty used a strict system to determine the rate of each vessel in the fleet based on its number of mounted cannons.

## Examples

- The heart rate of the patient is normal.
- The local bank offers a very competitive interest rate for new savings accounts this month.
- Economists are closely monitoring the unemployment rate to determine if the recent policy changes have successfully stimulated job growth in the industrial sector.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.