rank
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,725 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 10,543 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another the entrance was guarded by ranks of policemen
- relative status his salary was determined by his rank and seniority
- the ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army) also: rank and file the strike was supported by the union rank and filehe rose from the ranks to become a colonel
- position in a social hierarchy also: social station, social status, social rank the British are more aware of social status than Americans are
- the body of members of an organization or group also: membership they polled their membershipthey found dissension in their own ranks
verb
- take or have a position relative to others This painting ranks among the best in the Western World
- assign a rank or rating to also: rate, range, order, grade, place how would you rank these students?The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide
- take precedence or surpass others in rank also: outrank
rank in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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You term those enemies, Are men of princely rank.
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1
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Your rank overgrowths reduce Till your kinds abound with juice?
Poems Household Edition · Ralph Waldo Emerson · Chapter 1
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He bears his rank upon his visiting-cards, and frequents a military Club.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
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The simplicity of her dress gained an added dignity from comparison with the rank glitter of her mother's.
The Little Nugget · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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As you know, no one, however high his rank, is accepted as a novice before the age of sixteen.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1