rank
English meaning: Rank
Definition
Strong of its kind or in character; unmitigated; virulent; thorough; utter (used of negative things).
Example
“rank nonsense”
Another example: “The garden had been neglected and was choked with rank weeds.”
Usage — When, Where & How
As an adjective, 'rank' intensifies negative qualities ('rank hypocrisy', 'a rank amateur') or describes an offensive smell or overgrown plants ('rank weeds'). Somewhat formal or literary in the intensifying sense; the noun ('military rank') is far more common in everyday speech.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'ranc' 'proud, overbearing, full-grown'; the intensifying sense developed in Middle English.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
Related Words
- insignia
- brigadier
- sergeant
- brevet
- corporal
- colonel
- lieutenant
- seniority
- marshal
- admiral
Common Collocations
- rank amateur
- rank hypocrisy
- rank outsider
- rank injustice
- rank weeds
Word Forms
rank (adj); ranker; rankest; rankly (adv); rankness (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B