Meaning & use
ranks in the military
Last updated
UK/ræŋks ɪn ðə ˈmɪlɪtəri/
US/ræŋks ɪn ðə ˈmɪləteri/
Meaning
phraseplural
The different levels of position and authority in the armed forces.
Grammar: Always plural in this phrase; a single level is 'a rank'.
Patterns
- ranks in the military
- the military ranks
He studied the ranks in the military to understand who gave orders to whom.
The ranks in the military go from private up to general.
She explained the ranks in the military to the new recruits.
Common combinations
- rise through the ranks
- He rose through the ranks in the military over twenty years.
- military ranks
- The chart shows all the military ranks.
- rank and file
- The rank and file soldiers waited for orders.
Synonyms and how they differ
- military hierarchy
- More formal; focuses on the system rather than the individual levels.
- chain of command
- Emphasizes who reports to whom, not the names of the levels.
Word family
- rank noun
- A single level of position in the military.
- ranking noun
- A position in a list or order.
Commonly confused: ranks in the military or rank and file?
ranks in the military vs rank and file
'Rank and file' means ordinary members, not the levels themselves.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ranks in the military' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Ranks in the military' is plural and refers to the levels, so 'are' is correct. 'Is' in option D is wrong because the phrase is plural.
Make it your own
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