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Rank: meaning, definitions and examples

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rank

 

[ræŋk ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

position

A position in a hierarchy or scale of importance.

Synonyms

grade, level, position.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rank

Used to indicate a person's position or standing within a hierarchy or competitive setting. Often used in military, professional, or social settings.

  • He achieved the rank of captain in the army.
  • She climbed to the top rank in the company's sales department.
  • What's your rank in the chess tournament?
position

Usually refers to a specific place or role within an organization, team, or hierarchy. It can also indicate physical location.

  • She accepted a position at a prestigious firm.
  • His position on the team is goalkeeper.
  • The statue's position in the garden is perfect.
level

Commonly used to indicate a degree, stage, or position within various hierarchical structures or to describe the degree of difficulty or proficiency.

  • He reached level 10 in the video game.
  • Her English level is very advanced.
  • The job requires a higher level of expertise.
grade

Most often used in academic contexts to describe a student's performance or to classify items into categories based on quality or size.

  • She received an A grade on her math test.
  • This type of lumber is of the highest grade.
  • The teacher added up the grades for the semester.

Examples of usage

  • She quickly rose through the ranks to become a manager.
  • He holds the rank of captain in the army.
Context #2 | Noun

status

A person's official standing or position in a group or organization.

Synonyms

grade, standing, status.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rank

Used to indicate the level or position of someone or something in a hierarchy, often in the context of the military, competitions, or social status.

  • She achieved the rank of captain in the army.
  • The team is currently ranked third in the league.
status

Used to describe the current situation or condition of someone or something, often referring to social or professional rank.

  • Her status as a VIP granted her special privileges at the event.
  • He checked the status of the delivery online.
standing

Often used to describe someone's reputation or status in a community or society, usually in a positive context.

  • She is a scientist of high standing in the academic community.
  • His standing among his peers improved after his last project.
grade

Typically used in educational settings to denote a score or level of academic achievement. It can also be used for assessing the quality of something.

  • He received an A grade on his math test.
  • The quality of the product is graded at a high standard.

Examples of usage

  • She achieved the rank of professor at a young age.
  • His rank in the company allows him certain privileges.
Context #3 | Verb

assign position

To assign a particular position or status to someone or something.

Synonyms

categorize, classify, grade.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rank

Determine the position or level of something, often in a list. This can be in terms of hierarchy, importance, or quality. It can also have a negative connotation if implying a harsh or unfair assessment.

  • She ranked first in her class
  • The company was ranked among the top 10 in the country
classify

Arrange or group things into predefined classes or categories, often based on systematic rules or criteria. This term is often used in scientific or technical contexts.

  • The scientist classified the specimens by species
  • Students must classify these items based on their properties
grade

Evaluate the quality, performance, or level of something, often assigning a letter or number to indicate performance. This is commonly used in educational settings but can also apply to product quality or standards.

  • The teacher graded the exams over the weekend
  • This type of meat is graded based on its quality
categorize

Sort or arrange items, ideas, or information into different groups or categories based on shared characteristics.

  • He categorized the books by genre
  • The data was categorized into different segments for analysis

Examples of usage

  • The general decided to rank him as a lieutenant.
  • The website ranks among the top 10 in the world.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Old French 'renc', meaning 'to arrange in order'.
  • Its roots can be traced to the Latin word 'rancus', which referred to being in a particular place or line.
  • Originally, 'rank' was used to signify strong growth or lushness in plants, leading to its modern meanings of status.

Social Hierarchy

  • Many organizations use ranks to clearly define roles, such as in the military where each rank corresponds to level of responsibility.
  • In academia, ranks help identify positions like professor, associate professor, and assistant professor, influencing pay and status.
  • Racial and economic disparities in society can cause individuals to perceive varying ranks based on wealth or background.

Pop Culture

  • In many competitive games, ranking systems create excitement, as players aim to improve their status.
  • 'Ranked choice voting' is a modern approach in elections that allows voters to rank their preferences instead of choosing just one.
  • Movies often include a 'ranking' of characters based on power or skill, such as superheroes or competitors in sports.

Psychology

  • Rankings can affect self-esteem; higher ranks may boost confidence, while lower ones might lead to discouragement.
  • Social comparison theory states that people are motivated to evaluate themselves against others, often leading to a desire to improve their rank.
  • Feeling 'ranked' in a social group can influence one's sense of belonging and identity.

Science

  • In biology, organisms are ranked in a hierarchical classification system, which includes categories like kingdom, phylum, and genus.
  • In statistical analysis, data can be ranked to identify trends and outliers, assisting in decision-making processes.
  • In computer science, algorithms often use ranking to sort information quickly, such as search engine results.

Translations

Translations of the word "rank" in other languages:

🇵🇹 classificação

🇮🇳 रैंक

🇩🇪 Rang

🇮🇩 peringkat

🇺🇦 ранг

🇵🇱 ranga

🇯🇵 ランク

🇫🇷 rang

🇪🇸 rango

🇹🇷 rütbe

🇰🇷 등급

🇸🇦 مرتبة

🇨🇿 hodnost

🇸🇰 hodnosť

🇨🇳 等级

🇸🇮 rang

🇮🇸 stig

🇰🇿 дәрежесі

🇬🇪 რანგი

🇦🇿 rütbə

🇲🇽 rango

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,388, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.