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Synonyms

ranking

American  
[rang-king] / ˈræŋ kɪŋ /

adjective

  1. senior or superior in rank, position, etc..

    a ranking diplomat.

  2. prominent or highly regarded.

    a ranking authority on Soviet affairs.

  3. occupying a specific rank, position, etc. (often used in combination).

    a low-ranking executive.

noun

  1. an act or instance of indicating relative standing.

  2. a list showing such standing.

ranking British  
/ ˈræŋkɪŋ /

adjective

  1. prominent; high ranking

  2. slang possessed of style; fashionable; exciting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a position on a scale; rating

    a ranking in a tennis tournament
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ranking

First recorded in 1860–65; rank 1 + -ing 2, -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For museums, she’s box-office magic, ranking with Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and Warhol.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

James was eight for 16 from the field in notching his third triple-double of the season and the 125th of his 23-year NBA career, ranking him fifth all time.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Indeed, this week we are ranking the 10 most exciting wide players in the world right now - those in top form, churning out goals, assists and dynamic dribbles.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

In other cases, the schools might provide a full scholarship to a student with good grades and test scores to help boost a school’s ranking even though that student’s family could afford to pay.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

Her career advance had continued; she now held a senior ranking of GS-13.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.