Students who 'rank' in the top third of their class have a better chance of being accepted to the college of their choice.
A company spokesperson announced that the company will be decreasing its 'ranks' by 200. [=laying off 200 employees]
The guest lecturer is a novelist 'of rank' [=of high regard; of esteem] who has won many prestigious awards.
(..) You'll probably be about as good as I was. That's kind of the way it works, you know. I was below average. You know, so you'll probably ultimately rank... ...somewhere around there, you know, so... ...I really... You'll excel at a lot of things, just not this. I don't want you shooting (..)2006 The Pursuit of Happyness