rank

a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another

• “the entrance was guarded by ranks of policemen”

relative status

• “his salary was determined by his rank and seniority”

the ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army)

• “the strike was supported by the union rank and file”
• “he rose from the ranks to become a colonel”

position in a social hierarchy

• “the British are more aware of social status than Americans are”

the body of members of an organization or group

• “they polled their membership”
• “they found dissension in their own ranks”
• “he joined the ranks of the unemployed”

take or have a position relative to others

• “This painting ranks among the best in the Western World”

assign a rank or rating to

• “how would you rank these students?”
• “The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide”

take precedence or surpass others in rank

very fertile; producing profuse growth

• “rank earth”

very offensive in smell or taste

• “a rank cigar”

conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

• “a crying shame”
• “an egregious lie”
• “flagrant violation of human rights”
• “a glaring error”
• “gross ineptitude”
• “gross injustice”
• “rank treachery”

complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

• “absolute freedom”
• “an absolute dimwit”
• “a downright lie”
• “out-and-out mayhem”
• “an out-and-out lie”
• “a rank outsider”
• “many right-down vices”
• “got the job through sheer persistence”
• “sheer stupidity”

growing profusely

• “rank jungle vegetation”