ranke
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
To position or arrange someone or something in a hierarchy or sequence, often based on quality, importance, or achievement.
To hold a certain position within a list or hierarchy; also, to be more important or of higher status than others. In some contexts, it can describe something excessive or unpleasant (e.g., rank vegetation, rank injustice).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb and noun 'rank' are high-frequency. The adjective meaning 'growing excessively' (rank grass) or 'complete/utter' (rank amateur) is less common. The sense of 'having a foul smell' is archaic or dialectal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The verb and noun are used identically. The adjectival use for 'excessive/gross' (e.g., 'rank injustice') is slightly more literary in both.
Connotations
Neutral for hierarchy; negative for 'rank amateur' (complete beginner) or 'rank vegetation' (overgrown).
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVO: They ranked the universities.SV (as/in/among): She ranks among the best.SVO + ADJ/ADV: The school ranks highly.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rank and file (ordinary members)”
- “pull rank (use authority unfairly)”
- “of the first rank (excellent)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in performance reviews and market analysis (e.g., 'The company ranks third in market share').
Academic
Common in statistics, sociology, and education (e.g., 'The data were ranked before analysis').
Everyday
Discussing sports, schools, or preferences (e.g., 'How would you rank these films?').
Technical
Used in search engine algorithms (page rank) and military hierarchies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The university consistently ranks in the top ten globally.
- How did you rank the applicants?
American English
- This state ranks high in healthcare quality.
- We need to rank our priorities for the quarter.
adverb
British English
- It is rank stupid to go out in that storm. (informal, intensifier)
American English
- That was rank dishonest of him. (informal, intensifier)
adjective
British English
- The garden was overgrown with rank weeds.
- It was a rank betrayal of trust.
American English
- He was a rank amateur when he started.
- The smell in the cellar was rank and musty.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My favourite football team ranks first!
- Soldiers have different ranks.
- This phone ranks as one of the best this year.
- Please rank these items from most to least important.
- Despite its size, the country ranks highly in economic freedom.
- The study ranked anxiety as the most common disorder.
- Several factors were weighted to rank the candidates objectively.
- Her novel is ranked among the seminal works of the century.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RANK of soldiers standing in line, showing their order of importance.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS HEIGHT/ORDER ('top-ranked', 'low-ranking'). COMPETITION IS WAR (military ranks in sports/business).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'range' (диапазон). The noun 'rank' (ранг/звание) is specific to hierarchy. The verb 'to rank' is best translated as 'занимать место' or 'ранжировать'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He ranks as the best player of the team.' Correct: 'He ranks as the best player on the team.' Overusing 'rank' for simple 'is' (e.g., 'It is the best' vs. 'It ranks as the best').
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'pull rank', what does 'rank' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Rank' implies ordering items relative to each other (1st, 2nd, 3rd). 'Rate' typically means assigning an absolute score or evaluation (e.g., 5 out of 10).
Yes, but with different meanings: 1) complete/utter (a rank amateur), 2) overgrown/unpleasantly strong (rank vegetation). The 'smelly' sense is now rare.
Yes, it is regular: rank, ranked, ranked.
It refers to the ordinary members of a large organisation, especially a trade union or the military, as opposed to its leaders.