# rank

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɹæŋk/ · frequency rank #3,388

## Definitions
1. Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.
2. Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.
3. Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.
4. Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.
5. Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.
6. Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.
7. Having a very strong, bad taste or odor.
8. complete, unmitigated, utter.
9. lustful; lascivious

## Etymology
From Middle English rank (“strong, proud”), from Old English ranc (“proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent, forward, overbearing, showy, ostentatious, splendid, bold, valiant, noble, brave, strong, full-grown, mature”), from Proto-West Germanic *rank, from Proto-Germanic *rankaz (“straight”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“straight, direct”). Cognate with Dutch rank (“slender, slim”), Low German rank (“slender, projecting, lank”), Danish rank (“straight, erect, slender”), Swedish rank (“slender, shaky, wonky”), Icelandic rakkur (“straight, slender, bold, valiant”).

## Easily confused with
- **RN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rn)
- **run** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-run)
- **ray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-ray)
- **raw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-raw)
- **Ron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-ron)
- **rat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rat)
- **rap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rap)
- **RNA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rna)
- **ren** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-ren)
- **Rao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rao)
- **ras** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-ras)
- **rin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rin)
- **RNC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rnc)
- **rav** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rav)
- **rate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rate)
- **risk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-risk)
- **rock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rock)
- **runs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-runs)
- **ring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-ring)
- **rare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rank-vs-rare)

## Common misspellings (6)
`arnk`, `rakn`, `rankk`, `rannk`, `rnak`, `rrank`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rank