: the order according to some statistical characteristic (such as the score on a test)
6
: any of a series of classes of coal based on increasing alteration of the parent vegetable matter, increasing carbon content, and increasing fuel value
7
: the number of linearly independent rows or columns in a matrix
fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.
flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned.
flagrant abuse of the office of president
glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper.
glaring errors
gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits.
gross carelessness
rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned.
rank heresy
Example Sentences
Noun people of high rank and profession She's not concerned about rank or wealth. officers with the rank of captain He rose to the rank of partner in the law firm. He longed to join the upper social ranks. military ranks such as private, corporal, and sergeant He moved up through the ranks to become vice president of the company. The organization's ranks have doubled in the past two years. The flu swept through the ranks, infecting almost every soldier. Several men were selected from the ranks. Verb A magazine recently ranked the school as one of the best in the country. The city currently ranks as the world's largest. Students who rank in the top third of their class have a better chance of being accepted to the college of their choice. Adjective You can't expect a rank beginner like her to know all the rules of the game. covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The 29-year-old doctor had been drafted, given the rank of captain and assigned to the small pediatrics unit at a military hospital in Zama, Japan. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Andrew Shroba of Montgomery is hoping to earn the rank of Eagle Scout and found a way to complete one of his requirements by adding some beautification to the VFW post in his hometown. David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2022 In some editions Tuesday, the rank of Senior Col. Shi Yi, a spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, was given incorrectly as major in a World News article about U.S. lawmakers’ visit to Taiwan.WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Franken served in the Navy from 1978 until his retirement in 2017, achieving the rank of vice admiral. Thomas Phippen, Fox News, 13 Aug. 2022 His promotion to four-star general comes 43 years after the first Black Marine achieved the rank of one-star general and 80 years after the Marine Corps first began accepting Black men in its ranks. Rick Rouan, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2022 Since the corps began admitting African American troops in 1942, the last military service to do so, fewer than 30 have obtained the rank of general in any form.New York Times, 6 Aug. 2022 Casey was South Carolina's first female fighter pilot, enlisting with the state's Air National Guard's 157th Fighter Squadron in 1996 and attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. Meg Kinnard, ajc, 1 Aug. 2022 The first female fire captain, Danelle England-Dansicker, attained the rank in 1989 and rose to be a division chief. Tashi Mcqueen, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2022
Verb
During Jordan’s five seasons, Butler was 40-54 in Big East games to rank eighth out of 11 teams. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Sep. 2022 Cubs hitters have a collective .390 slugging percentage to rank ninth in the NL. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 11 Sep. 2022 When asked to rank the book, the lowest was a 2, and the highest was a 3. Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2022 Cincinnati was the only Ohio city (or Midwestern city, for that matter) to rank in the top 10. Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2022 The Stroud to Smith-Njigba combo was the primary reason OSU was projected to rank among the nation’s elite teams. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 In November voters will be asked to re-rank these candidates, so Republicans now have another two months to figure out how not to elect a Democrat. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 The ratings were then compiled to rank up to 101 employers in each state, depending on the size of their workforce. Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Aug. 2022 His team showed 74 people pictures of dogs' faces with and without artificial tears in them and asked them to rank the animals. Katie Hunt, CNN, 22 Aug. 2022
Adjective
The Escape itself, though, is a mid-rank player overall. Joe Lorio, Car and Driver, 5 May 2022 The report also did not re-rank water parks, but topping the attendance in the U.S. for 2020 was Universal’s Volcano Bay and Aquatica, part of SeaWorld Orlando. Dewayne Bevil, orlandosentinel.com, 28 Oct. 2021 In none has the national government deliberately stepped away from managing the crisis or substituted rank partisanship for the sober assessment of scientific knowledge. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021 In none has the national government deliberately stepped away from managing the crisis or substituted rank partisanship for the sober assessment of scientific knowledge. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021 In none has the national government deliberately stepped away from managing the crisis or substituted rank partisanship for the sober assessment of scientific knowledge. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021 In none has the national government deliberately stepped away from managing the crisis or substituted rank partisanship for the sober assessment of scientific knowledge. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021 In none has the national government deliberately stepped away from managing the crisis or substituted rank partisanship for the sober assessment of scientific knowledge. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021 In none has the national government deliberately stepped away from managing the crisis or substituted rank partisanship for the sober assessment of scientific knowledge. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, "row, series, high social position," borrowed from Anglo-Frenchrenc, ranc "line of soldiers, jousting lists, line or rank of persons or things" (continental Old & Middle French also "position in a series or class, high social position"), going back to Old Low Franconian *hringa- "circle, ring," going back to Germanic *hrenga — more at ring entry 1