equate

verb

i-ˈkwāt How to pronounce equate (audio)
ˈē-ˌkwāt
equated; equating

transitive verb

1
a
: to make equal : equalize
b
: to make such an allowance or correction in as will reduce to a common standard or obtain a correct result
2
: to treat, represent, or regard as equal, equivalent, or comparable
equates disagreement with disloyalty

intransitive verb

: to correspond as equal

Examples of equate in a Sentence

You shouldn't equate those two things. a value system that equates money with success
Recent Examples on the Web Eighty years ago, at the 16th Academy Awards, no Oscar winner accepted his or her statue with a speech equating what the Allies were doing to win World War II with the Nazis. Richard Trank, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Those challenging the Trump rule on bump stocks point out that the ATF hasn't always equated bump stocks with machine guns. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 This is not to equate Trump and Biden on their merits. Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2024 Over on Threads, liberals will berate any journalist, especially those who write for the New York Times, who mentions even in the most modest or anodyne of ways that Biden’s age may be a concern, equating it to voting for Hitler or something. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 As a Jewish man who grew up going to synagogue in Texas, Young said equating anti-Zionism and antisemitism is dangerous. USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 Resist the urge to equate the AI of today and human cognition. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In Tehran, election posters and banners erected around the city this week by the authorities equated voting with nationalism and love for Iran — but not the Islamic Republic. Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 At his sentencing on Jan. 24, Judge Ana Reyes criticized rioters who have equated themselves with revolutionaries and America's Founding Fathers. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'equate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin aequatus, past participle of aequare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of equate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near equate

Cite this Entry

“Equate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

equate

verb
equated; equating
: to make or treat as equal or equivalent

More from Merriam-Webster on equate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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