Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Rank

What does it mean?

Disgusting, foul-smelling, or generally gross.

Is it positive or negative?

Negative.

When do you use it?

Used to describe bad smells, tastes, or even situations that feel unpleasant or repulsive.

Examples

Example 1: Those gym socks are absolutely rank, put them straight in the wash!

Example 2: The coffee at that new cafe is rank, I couldn't even finish it.

Question for you

What’s the most rank smell you can think of?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online?

Rank is a strong but common word in the UK. We work on using descriptive English accurately in online English lessons with a British native speaker. For a similar vibe, see Manky. Find out more here.