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a position in an organization, such as the army, showing the importance of the person having it: senior /high/ junior / low rank. He has just been promoted to the rank of captain. Ministers of cabinet rank receive a higher salary than other ministers. Having a large income is one of the advantages of rank (= high position). [ C or U ]
1. a. : relative standing or position. b. : a degree or position of dignity, eminence, or excellence : distinction. soon took rank as a leading attorney J. D. Hicks. c. : high social position. the privileges of rank. d. : a grade of official standing in a hierarchy. 2. : an aggregate of individuals classed together usually used in plural. 3. a.
noun. a number of persons forming a separate class in a social hierarchy or in any graded body. a social or official position or standing, as in the armed forces: the rank of captain. high position or station in the social or some similar scale: a woman of rank. Synonyms: dignity, eminence, distinction. a class in any scale of comparison.
If you say that someone or something ranks high or low on a scale or if you rank them high or low, you are saying how good or important you think they are. His prices rank high among those of other contemporary photographers.
The noun rank refers to a position within a hierarchy, and to rank something is to put it in order — for example, your high school might rank students in terms of their GPAs. You can also use rank to describe an especially foul smell, like the rank gym shoes in the back of your closet.
n. 1. a. A relative position in a society. b. An official position or grade: the rank of sergeant. c. A relative position or degree of value in a graded group. d. High or eminent station or position: persons of rank. 2. A row, line, series, or range. 3. a. A line of soldiers, vehicles, or equipment standing side by side in close order.
[transitive, intransitive] to give somebody/something a particular position on a scale according to quality, importance, success, etc.; to have a position of this kind. rank somebody/something In most Australian elections, electors are required to rank all candidates. rank somebody/something + adv./prep.
to have a position in a list that shows things or people in order of importance, or to give someone or something a position on such a list: He ranked number one in the world at the start of the competition. The city's canals now rank among the world's dirtiest.
Origin of Rank. From Middle English rank (“strong, proud”), from Old English ranc (“proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent, forward, overbearing, showy, ostentatious, splendid, bold, valiant, noble, brave, strong, full-grown, mature”), from Proto-Germanic *rankaz (“straight”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“straight, direct”).
[uncountable, countable]the position, especially a high position, that somebody has in a particular organization, society, etc. She was not used to mixing with people of high social rank. He rose through the ranks to become managing director. Within months she was elevated to ministerial rank.
