rank and file
Enlisted soldiers in a military organization, as would be arrayed in a grid pattern with ranks and files.
ADJ
high, senior, superior, upper | middle
inferior, junior, low
A junior rank officer was put in charge of organizing the training schedule.
first, second
She considers herself second rank compared to her older sister who won the competition.
social
Cabinet, ministerial
The new director holds ministerial rank and will oversee three government departments.
VERB + RANK
achieve, attain, be promoted to, get to, reach, rise to
After years of hard work, he finally achieved the rank of manager at the company.
have, hold
She has the rank of manager at the company where she has worked for five years.
be stripped of
After the scandal, the officer was stripped of his rank and dismissed from the army.
PREP
above a/the ~
No soldier in that unit ever advanced above the rank of sergeant.
below a/the ~
Soldiers below the rank of captain were not permitted to attend the officers' meeting.
in ~
The new manager was promoted three levels in rank after leading the successful project.
~ in
There are talented musicians at every rank in the orchestra, from the newest players to the most experienced.
~ of
He worked hard for many years before finally achieving the rank of manager.
PHRASES
of high/low, etc. rank
The committee included members of different rank, from junior advisors to senior executives.
ADJ
front, rear
massed, serried
The soldiers stood in massed ranks across the parade ground, ready for inspection.
PREP
along a/the ~
The general walked along the ranks, greeting each soldier with a firm handshake.
in a/the ~
The firefighters stood in ranks outside the burning building, ready to respond.
PHRASES
break ranks
rank on/upon rank (of sth)
Row after row of soldiers stood in formation across the parade ground.
the ranks
VERB + RANK
be admitted into/to, enter, join, swell
Many young people entered the ranks of the military after finishing high school.
serve in
My grandfather served in the ranks during World War II before becoming an officer.
come up from/through, rise from/through
She rose through the ranks at the company and eventually became a director.
PREP
among/within the ~s of
Disagreement exists within the ranks of the team about the new strategy.
beyond/outside the ~s
The new ideas seemed strange and threatening to people beyond the ranks of the organization.
in the ~s
Many soldiers started as ordinary recruits before climbing up in the ranks.
ADV
high/highly, low
The new restaurant ranked highly among food critics after just three months in business.
PREP
above
Her performance at the competition ranked above all the other contestants.
according to
The hotels in the city are ranked according to customer satisfaction scores.
alongside
Paris ranks alongside Tokyo as a popular destination for international visitors.
among
She ranks among the top students in her class this year.
as
That old restaurant ranks as one of the most popular places in our neighborhood.
below, with
That restaurant ranks below the others in town for quality of food.
PHRASES
be ranked/rank number two, three, etc.
That university ranks number three in the country for engineering programs.
high-/low-ranking
The low-ranking employees were not invited to the executive meeting.
rank sth in order of sth
The students ranked their favorite movies in order of preference.
rank in the top 10, 100, etc.
That restaurant ranks in the top ten best places to eat in the city.
rank second, third, etc.
Brazil ranks third in the world for coffee production.