ranks 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rank
1
as in is
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes my favorite pitcher ranks first in the league for number of consecutive outs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in groups
to arrange or assign according to type most critics would rank him among our best actors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ranks

2 of 2

noun

plural of rank
as in league
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic this book will someday join the ranks of the world's great novels

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ranks
Verb
About 3 in 5 Idaho adults live in households with guns, which ranks among the highest rates nationally, according to an estimate from the RAND Gun Policy in America initiative. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026 Proctor was again dominant at times in the run game; Pro Football Focus already ranks him among the top fifth of NFL guards in the run game. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026 Among those who celebrate, spending time with family and friends is the number-one source of holiday joy (48 percent), while receiving gifts ranks near the bottom (18 percent). — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 26 Oct. 2026 Massachusetts ranks third for the annual cost of raising a small child but 18th over 18 years. — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 Quantum mechanics, which recently turned 100 years old, ranks as the most successful theory in the history of physics. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 The personal money spent on her campaign also ranks among the top 30 in California history, according to CalMatters. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026 After allowing four sacks and managing 33 rushing yards against the Bears, TCU ranks last in the Big 12 in rushing yards and sacks allowed. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026 My concern is Dallas’ defense, which ranks last in EPA allowed per play. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
This season is really no different, with many teams filling the top ranks in the nation. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Amid a flurry of cuts the past couple of years, the number of women in the highest ranks at the major studios has dwindled, and grows fewer by the day. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026 In the years that followed, predatory land purchases, restrictive edicts, and forced displacement further diminished their ranks. — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026 West Aurora’s ranks are thinner with the loss of senior tight end Brendon Salach to a broken leg, suffered last week in the 41-0 win at East Aurora. — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Kaplan had replaced the neoliberal UK politico Nick Clegg just as the political pendulum was swinging and companies were rushing to add MAGA credentials to their boardrooms and executive ranks. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The president has essentially purged the House GOP ranks of those perceived to be disloyal. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 Lookswise, the Panasonic sits in the same ranks as flush-inset refrigerators that blend into custom cabinetry and sticker-shock–inducing ovens equipped with top-of-the-line tech. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026 Founded by influencer-barber Lance Baker, Based catapulted through the ranks, surpassing several household names, including Dove, Cetaphil, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena, Panoxyl and Old Spice. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ranks
  1. is
  2. groups
  3. league
  4. places
  5. classifies
  6. category
  7. rates
  8. relegates
Verb
  • Jean Dorneval, a former Haiti defense minister, said while there is public enthusiasm and support among Haitians for Bukele’s troops, the government needs to provide answers.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Georgy Tikhomirov, a nuclear physicist at Russia’s MEPhI university, said there is still too little operating experience to assess the actual cost of the electricity and power produced.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of is
Verb
  • The outlet groups the service under cosmetic tattooing, sometimes marketed as semi-permanent makeup.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Because humans can readily resolve patterns in motion — when points move in the same direction, the brain groups them into a unified whole — the moving dots appear as faint letters.
    — Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of groups
Noun
  • The Oklahoma City Thunder’s win on opening night of the new NBA season was a reminder of everything that makes the league’s 2025 champion a prime contender to win again.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Owners Atlanta Dream The scheduling dispute also drew attention beyond the league, with prominent figures weighing in on the unusual Thursday afternoon tipoff.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of league
Verb
  • Academics believe the lawsuit is the first time since the civil rights era that the federal government has sued to halt certification of an election, a duty the Constitution places in the hands of states.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • As the exchange progresses, Andreatta crosses her arms and later places her hands in her pockets, while Pagano steps backward and holds his hands behind his back.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of places
Verb
  • The state's vehicle code classifies personal delivery devices as pedestrians and generally requires them to follow pedestrian traffic rules.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Using primary production data, EIM measures water and energy consumption and chemical use, as well as worker impact at the garment-finishing stage, and classifies environmental performance as low, medium or high impact.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of classifies
Noun
  • The complete list of Power 100 honorees — leaders chosen across 11 categories — is available on the Ebony website.
    — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Shouldn’t raising a child with debilitating epilepsy earn me some sort of exemption in the diagnosis category?
    — Jen Murphy Parker, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Verb
  • Purely as a run defender, PFF rates Robinson 97th among 115 NFL edge rushers.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Ehrlich rates Netflix a buy with a $90 price target, implying 31% upside over the coming 12 months.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rates
Verb
  • By naming the product of two mergers Skydance, David Ellison relegates two of Hollywood’s founding studios to a sub-brand stew and attempts to erase a bunch of controversial hires.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The move relegates longtime Renegades starter Luis Perez to the bench.
    — José Sánchez Córdova, Dallas Morning News, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of relegates

Phrases Containing ranks

Browse Nearby Words

rankness
ranks
ran off
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Cite this Entry

“Ranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ranks. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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