rate

rate — noun

1. A measurement of how fast an event takes place or how often it occurs during a s

1.nounB1
Definition

A measurement of how fast an event takes place or how often it occurs during a set period.

Example

The heart rate of a healthy adult at rest is usually around 70 beats per minute.

compound noun: heart rate + measurement pattern

At the current rate of progress, the team will finish the building by March.

Common collocations
  • rapid rate
  • slow rate
  • steady rate
  • alarming rate
  • at this rate
Synonyms
  • speed

    more general; rate implies measurement per unit of time or against a standard

  • pace

    often used for continuous movement or activity over time

  • frequency

    focuses on how often something happens rather than speed

Grammar Patterns

rate of + noun

at a + adjective + rate

Usage Note

Often used in compound nouns such as heart rate, birth rate, or interest rate. The preposition of typically follows rate when specifying what is being measured.

Common Mistakes

The rate of the car was very fast.
The car was travelling at a very fast rate.
'rate' is typically used with 'at' when describing speed, not as a direct subject for vehicles.

2. The sum of money you pay or receive for a service, calculated per unit of time,

2.nounB1
Definition

The sum of money you pay or receive for a service, calculated per unit of time, quantity, or value.

Example

The hotel offers a special rate for guests who stay longer than a week.

rate for + noun phrase (who stays)

Brian checked the exchange rate before transferring money to his bank in Tokyo.

compound noun: exchange rate

Common collocations
  • competitive rate
  • fixed rate
  • hourly rate
  • low rate
  • going rate
Synonyms
  • charge

    broader; can be a one-time fee rather than a per-unit calculation

  • fee

    usually a fixed payment for a professional service

  • price

    general term for what something costs to buy

Grammar Patterns

rate for + noun

rate of + noun

at a + adjective + rate

Usage Note

Subject is typically a service provider (hotel, bank, company) or the cost itself. The preposition for introduces the service, while of introduces the amount.

Common Mistakes

The price of the hotel room is 100 dollars per night.' (when meaning the nightly charge)
The hotel room rate is 100 dollars per night.
'rate' implies a standardized charge per unit; 'price' is the general cost of an item.

3. A form of local tax paid by people who own homes or buildings, used to fund publ

3.nounB2
Definition

A form of local tax paid by people who own homes or buildings, used to fund public services such as schools, roads, and rubbish collection. This system still operates in Australia and was used in Britain before the 1990s.

Example

In Australia, homeowners pay council rates to fund local services each year.

collocation: pay council rates

Under the old system, the rate on each house was set by the parish council.

Common collocations
  • pay rates
  • council rates
  • business rates
  • rate demand
  • rate bill
Synonyms
  • council tax

    the modern UK equivalent after 1993; not the same system but similar purpose

  • property tax

    general term used in many countries; broader than 'rates'

Grammar Patterns

pay rates

council rates

Usage Note

Still actively used in Australia (where it is called council rates). In Britain, domestic rates were replaced by the Community Charge in 1990, but business rates remain. The plural form rates is very common.

Common Mistakes

I paid my rate to the city government.
I paid my rates to the city council.
in this sense 'rates' is typically plural, and the collecting body is a council, not a general 'government'.
Idioms

at any rate

idiom

Used to emphasize that a statement is true regardless of other circumstances.

The car broke down, but at any rate we arrived safely.

At any rate, the project will be finished by Friday.

at a rate of knots

idiom

Very quickly.

Maya finished her homework at a rate of knots.

The rumor spread through the office at a rate of knots.

at this/that rate

idiom

Used to describe what will happen if the current situation continues.

At this rate, we'll run out of food by Tuesday.

At that rate, the company will lose all its customers.

the going rate (for something)

idiom

The usual price or payment for a service or product at a given time.

The going rate for a babysitter in this city is $15 per hour.

Diego paid above the going rate for the antique vase.

rate — verb

rate — suffix

Word family

  • rating
    nounB1
  • rateable
    adjectiveC1
  • rated
    adjectiveB2
  • overrate
    verbC1
  • underrate
    verbC1
  • first-rate
    adjectiveB2
  • second-rate
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Rate, assess, evaluate, rank, and grade all involve forming a judgement about someone or something, but they differ in how the judgement is expressed. Rate is the most flexible and common in everyday use — it can involve a score (rate a film four stars), a verbal label (rate as excellent), or a comparative position (rate among the best). Assess is more formal and systematic, often used in education or business to carefully analyse strengths and weaknesses before reaching a conclusion. Evaluate carries a similar formality to assess but implies a broader judgement of overall worth or effectiveness. Rank specifically assigns a numbered position in an ordered list — it is inherently comparative. Grade assigns a letter or category mark, most commonly used in education. For example: a teacher might assess a student's progress over a term, grade their final exam paper, rate their presentation as good, and rank them fifth in the class.

assess ↗evaluate ↗rank ↗grade ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • heart rate
  • birth rate
  • interest rate
  • exchange rate
  • tax rate
  • success rate
  • unemployment rate
  • crime rate

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

  • rate of
  • at a rate
  • rate for
  • rate as
  • rate among

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word rate entered English from Old French rate, meaning 'price, value,' which came from Medieval Latin rata, short for pro rata parte meaning 'according to a fixed proportion.' The original sense of a computed or fixed amount gave rise to both the 'speed/frequency' meaning (how much per unit of time) and the 'charge' meaning (how much per unit of service). The verb form developed later, reflecting the idea of assigning a value or position according to a standard.