What does rank mean?
“Rank” describes both an ordered arrangement and the place something occupies within a hierarchy. As a noun, it can refer to social status, professional standing, military rank, a numbered level in a classification, or a line of people or competitors. As a verb, it means to arrange something in order or to occupy a particular position, as in a ranking of players or universities. The word also has the less common adjectival sense of “extremely offensive in smell,” and an older literary sense describing vegetation as abundant or vigorous. In everyday use, rank is particularly useful when discussing differences in status, authority, achievement, or competition. Its broad meaning—from rows of soldiers to levels of professional prestige—reflects the basic idea of putting things into a clear sequence.
A position or level in a social, professional, military, or other hierarchy; a class or category; or an ordered line.
"She rose quickly through the ranks of the organization."
The phrase “rank and file” refers to ordinary members of a military, political, or organizational group, as distinct from its leaders.
To arrange in order or according to a hierarchy, or to occupy a particular position in a classification.
"The judge ranked the competitors according to their performances."
Common in contexts involving competition, evaluation, classification, and organizational hierarchy.
Having an extremely offensive odor; or, in literary use, growing or developing luxuriantly.
"A rank smell filled the room."
The odor sense is relatively uncommon and formal or literary; the luxuriant-growth sense is now chiefly literary or regional.
The plural is used for different levels of a hierarchy, groups or classes, and ordered lines. The expression “rise through the ranks” means to advance from a lower level to a higher one.
"The candidates were placed into different ranks according to experience."
From a line of people to a position of authority: “rank” has always been about the order in which things stand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of rank
The word entered Middle English from Old French ranc, a term of Germanic origin associated with an ordered row or sequence. Its sense developed from the idea of physical arrangement to the idea of relative position, especially social or military standing. Modern uses such as “rank and file” preserve the older sense of an ordered line.
Related word forms
How rank is actually used
The noun is common in formal and informal contexts. The verb is especially used in competitive and organizational contexts, while the adjective meaning “offensive in smell” is formal or literary; the adjective meaning “abundant” is now mainly literary or regional.