ranking
B2Formal, neutral
Definition
Meaning
The position held by someone or something on a graded scale of merit, quality, importance, or status.
The action or process of assigning positions or order; a hierarchical listing or classification. Can also function adjectivally to describe a person or entity holding a high position.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun, but also commonly used as an attributive adjective (e.g., a ranking official). Implies a comparative or competitive assessment. Not used for simple lists without a value judgment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Adjective use ('a ranking member') is slightly more established in American political/governmental contexts.
Connotations
Generally neutral, but in competitive contexts (sports, universities) can carry significant prestige or stigma.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ranking of + [group] (the ranking of European universities)ranking in/for + [area] (its ranking in sustainability)ranking as + [position] (a ranking as the third largest)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Number one ranking”
- “Top of the rankings”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to credit ratings, company performance leagues, or market position.
Academic
Used for university league tables, journal impact factors, or scholar citations.
Everyday
Common in discussions of sports teams, schools, or product reviews.
Technical
In computing/data science, refers to algorithms that order search results or items by relevance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee is ranking the applicants based on their interviews.
American English
- They ranked the cities by quality of life.
adjective
British English
- She is the ranking officer on board the vessel.
American English
- The ranking Democrat on the committee issued a statement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His tennis ranking is very high.
- The school has a good ranking.
- The university improved its ranking this year.
- What is your country's ranking in the competition?
- Despite their victory, the team's world ranking remained unchanged.
- The annual ranking of most livable cities was published yesterday.
- The algorithm's ranking of search results is based on complex criteria, including relevance and authority.
- Her research contributed to the journal's meteoric rise in the academic rankings.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a military RANK - a 'ranking' tells you what RANK someone holds in a list.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS UP/DOWN (a high/low ranking), COMPETITION IS A RACE (climbing the rankings).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'рейтинг' for all contexts; 'rating' often fits better for opinions/scores (film rating). 'Ranking' implies a specific ordered list relative to others.
- Do not confuse with 'range' (диапазон).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ranking' as a verb (the verb is 'to rank').
- Using it for a non-comparative list (e.g., 'a ranking of ingredients' for a recipe).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'ranking' used as an adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Ranking' is primarily a noun or an adjective. The verb is 'to rank' (present participle 'ranking').
A 'rating' is usually a score or grade (e.g., 4.5 stars). A 'ranking' is an ordinal position based on comparing those scores (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd).
No, this is redundant. A ranking *is* a type of ordered list. Say 'the list' or 'the ranking'.
When used before a noun as a compound adjective, it usually is hyphenated (a top-ranking official). Otherwise, not (The official is top ranking).