Phrase guide

at any rate

prep_phrase · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In any case: anyway, anyhow, regardless; used to discard a previous thought or discount its importance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: conjunctive

Examples

  • Jim broke the window — or maybe it was John? At any rate, the window’s broken now.
  • He's stinking rich — or, at any rate, pretty well off.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: in any event, at all events

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

In any case: by any measure, any way one slices it; used to emphasize that a point matters no matter which instance is operative or how one looks at the situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • At any rate, no aircraft can leave this hangar until no fewer than three inspectors have signed off on it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: in any event, at all events

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep_phrase

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see at, any, rate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Mr Chairman, I'd point out here that taxation without representation is an affront at any rate, low or high, but it is especially galling at the rate that Mr Smith proposes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Anyhow, he is dead now
  • I think they're asleep; anyhow, they're quiet
  • I don't know what happened to it; anyway, it's gone
  • anyway, there is another factor to consider
  • I don't know how it started; in any case, there was a brief scuffle
  • in any event, the government faced a serious protest
  • but at any rate he got a knighthood for it

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: anyhow, anyway, anyways, in any case, in any event

Antonyms: none provided

5

adverb

Meaning 5

if nothing else (`leastwise' is informal and `leastways' is colloquial)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • at least he survived
  • they felt--at any rate Jim felt--relieved though still wary
  • the influence of economists--or at any rate of economics--is far-reaching

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: at least, leastways, leastwise

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.