Ranking: meaning, definitions and examples

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ranking

 

[ ˈræŋ.kɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

sports

The position or status of a person or group in relation to others, based on a ranking system.

Synonyms

grade, placement, position, status.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ranking

Used to denote the level or position someone or something holds in comparison within a list or system, often related to performance or achievement.

  • He holds the number one ranking in the world.
  • The university improved its ranking among national institutions.
position

Refers to a specific location, role, or status in a particular context, including jobs, competitions, and physical spaces.

  • She holds a top executive position at the company.
  • His car finished in second position in the race.
status

Describes the current state or condition of someone or something, often in terms of social standing, respect, or official recognition.

  • His status as a respected leader is well-known.
  • The application is still under review status.
placement

Used when referring to the assignment or positioning of someone or something within a particular context or system. It often relates to job positions or educational settings.

  • He got a great placement after graduation.
  • The placement of the furniture in the room was perfect.
grade

Primarily used in educational settings to represent the measure of academic performance, such as scores on tests or overall performance in a course. It can also refer to a category or level of quality.

  • She received an A grade in math.
  • The meat is of the highest grade.

Examples of usage

  • He achieved the number one ranking in the world.
  • She is currently in the top five rankings for her age group.
  • The team's ranking has improved significantly this season.
Context #2 | Noun

education

A list of students or schools based on their academic performance or achievements.

Synonyms

classification, hierarchy, list, order.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ranking

Used when referring to a position or grade within a competitive or hierarchical structure.

  • She achieved a top ranking in her tennis league
  • The website's ranking improved after the redesign
list

Used generally to refer to an ordered series of items or names, without implying any particular structure or importance.

  • She kept a list of groceries she needed to buy
  • He made a list of all the tasks he had to complete
hierarchy

Used when discussing levels of authority or status within a system or organization.

  • The corporate hierarchy consists of multiple levels of management
  • In ancient societies, the social hierarchy was strictly enforced
classification

Used when grouping or categorizing items based on common characteristics.

  • The scientist worked on the classification of newly discovered species
  • His book explores the classification of different art movements
order

Used to describe arranging things in a specific sequence or organization.

  • Please place the books in alphabetical order
  • They carefully arranged the paintings in the correct order for the exhibit

Examples of usage

  • The school publishes the academic rankings every semester.
  • He was proud to be included in the top ranking students of his class.
Context #3 | Noun

business

The relative position or standing of a company or product compared to competitors in the market.

Synonyms

grade, position, standing, status.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ranking

Typically used in competitive or performance-related contexts to show an ordered list based on performance or quality.

  • His ranking in the tennis tournament improved this year
  • The school has a high ranking among universities
position

Usually refers to the place or order someone or something holds in a list, hierarchy, or physical space.

  • He finished the race in second position
  • Her position in the company is Vice President
standing

Refers to one's reputation, status, or place within a group or organization, often in a social or professional context.

  • Her standing in the community is very high
  • The company’s financial standing has improved
status

Indicates the social or professional ranking someone holds, as well as the current state or condition of something.

  • She has achieved a high status in the corporate world
  • The project is currently in development status
grade

Used in educational settings to indicate a student's level of performance or in various other contexts to rate quality, achieving a grade in a scale such as A-F.

  • She received a high grade on her math exam
  • The quality inspector gave the product a grade of B

Examples of usage

  • Our company's ranking has been steadily increasing in the industry.
  • The product's ranking among similar offerings is a key factor in its success.

Translations

Translations of the word "ranking" in other languages:

🇵🇹 classificação

🇮🇳 श्रेणीकरण

🇩🇪 Rangliste

🇮🇩 peringkat

🇺🇦 рейтинг

🇵🇱 ranking

🇯🇵 ランキング

🇫🇷 classement

🇪🇸 clasificación

🇹🇷 sıralama

🇰🇷 랭킹

🇸🇦 تصنيف

🇨🇿 žebříček

🇸🇰 rebríček

🇨🇳 排名

🇸🇮 razvrstitev

🇮🇸 röðun

🇰🇿 рейтинг

🇬🇪 რეიტინგი

🇦🇿 reyting

🇲🇽 clasificación

Etymology

The word 'ranking' originates from the verb 'to rank', which comes from Middle French 'reng', meaning 'row, line'. The concept of ranking has been prevalent in various aspects of human society for centuries, from military rankings to academic rankings. In modern usage, 'ranking' is commonly associated with sports, education, and business to denote the position or status of individuals or entities in relation to others.

See also: outrank, rank, rankable, ranked, rankings, rankness.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,972 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.