level

[ lev-uhl ]

adjective

1. having no part higher than another; having a flat or even surface.

   Synonyms: flush

   Antonyms: uneven

2. being in a plane parallel to the plane of the horizon; horizontal.

   Synonyms: flush

   Antonyms: vertical

3. equal, as one thing with another or two or more things with one another.
4. even, equable, or uniform.
5. filled to a height even with the rim of a container:

   a level teaspoon of salt.

6. mentally well-balanced; sensible; rational:

   to keep a level head in a crisis.

noun

1. a device used for determining or adjusting something to a horizontal surface.
2. Surveying.
   1. Also called sur·vey·or's lev·el [ser-, vey, -erz lev-, uh, l]. an instrument for observing levels, having a sighting device, usually telescopic, and capable of being made precisely horizontal.
   2. an observation made with this instrument.
   3. spirit level.
3. an imaginary line or surface everywhere at right angles to the plumb line.
4. the horizontal line or plane in which anything is situated, with regard to its elevation.
5. a horizontal position or condition.
6. an extent of land approximately horizontal and unbroken by irregularities.
7. a level or flat surface.
8. a position with respect to a given or specified height:

   The water rose to a level of 30 feet.

9. a position or plane in a graded scale of values; status; rank: They associated only with those on their own economic level.

   His acting was on the level of an amateur.

   They associated only with those on their own economic level.

10. an extent, measure, or degree of intensity, achievement, etc.:

    a high level of sound; an average level of writing skill.

11. Linguistics. a major subdivision of linguistic structure, as phonology, morphology, or syntax, often viewed as hierarchically ordered. Compare component ( def 6a ), stratum ( def 8 ).
12. Mining. the interconnected horizontal mine workings at a particular elevation or depth:

    There had been a cave-in on the 1,500-foot level.

13. (in a video game or role-playing game)
    1. a discrete section in game design or narrative that ends with a culminating event, as a boss battle.
    2. character level ( def ).

verb (used with object)

, lev·eled, lev·el·ing or (especially British) lev·elled, lev·el·ling.

1. to make (a surface) level, even, or flat:

   to level ground before building.

   Synonyms: flatten, smooth

2. to raise or lower to a particular level or position; to make horizontal.
3. to bring (something) to the level of the ground; raze:

   They leveled the trees to make way for the new highway.

   Synonyms: destroy, demolish, raze

4. Informal. to knock down (a person):

   He leveled his opponent with one blow.

5. to make equal, as in status or condition.

   Synonyms: equalize

6. to make even or uniform, as coloring.
7. Historical Linguistics. (of the alternative forms of a paradigm) to reduce in number or regularize:

   Old English “him” (dative) and “hine” (accusative) have been leveled to Modern English “him.”

8. to aim or point (a weapon, criticism, etc.) at a mark or objective:

   He leveled his criticism at the college as a whole.

   Synonyms: direct

9. Surveying. to find the relative elevation of different points in (land), as with a level.

verb (used without object)

, lev·eled, lev·el·ing or (especially British) lev·elled, lev·el·ling.

1. to bring things or persons to a common level.
2. to aim a weapon, criticism, etc., at a mark or objective.
3. Surveying.
   1. to take a level.
   2. to use a leveling instrument.
4. to speak truthfully and openly (often followed by with ):

   You're not leveling with me about your trip to Chicago.

5. Obsolete. to direct the mind, purpose, etc., at something.

adverb

1. Obsolete. in a level, direct, or even way or line.

verb phrase

1. 1. Aeronautics. to maintain a constant altitude after a climb or descent.
   2. to become stable; reach a constant or limit.
   3. to make even or smooth.
2. 1. (in a video game or tabletop game) to obtain a higher character level or skill rank, or improve the quality or performance statistics of an object, as a weapon.
   2. to perform at a higher standard than expected, or show vast improvement: Your date is smokin’ hot—way to level up, bro!

      It’s possible for a small business to level up and land big clients.

      Your date is smokin’ hot—way to level up, bro!

level

/ ˈlɛvəl /

adjective

1. on a horizontal plane
2. having a surface of completely equal height
3. being of the same height as something else
4. (of quantities to be measured, as in recipes) even with the top of the cup, spoon, etc
5. equal to or even with (something or someone else)
6. not having or showing inconsistency or irregularities
7. Alsolevel-headed even-tempered; steady

verb

1. trsometimes foll byoff to make (a surface) horizontal, level, or even
2. to make (two or more people or things) equal, as in position or status
3. tr to raze to the ground
4. tr to knock (a person) down by or as if by a blow
5. tr to direct (a gaze, criticism, etc) emphatically at someone
6. informal.
   introften foll bywith to be straightforward and frank
7. intr; foll by off or out to manoeuvre an aircraft into a horizontal flight path after a dive, climb, or glide
8. often foll by at to aim (a weapon) horizontally
9. surveying to determine the elevation of a section of (land), sighting through a levelling instrument to a staff at successive pairs or points

noun

1. a horizontal datum line or plane
2. a device, such as a spirit level, for determining whether a surface is horizontal
3. a surveying instrument consisting basically of a telescope with a spirit level attached, used for measuring relative heights of land See Abney level dumpy level
4. a reading of the difference in elevation of two points taken with such an instrument
5. position or status in a scale of values
6. amount or degree of progress; stage
7. a specified vertical position; altitude
8. a horizontal line or plane with respect to which measurement of elevation is based

   sea level

9. a flat even surface or area of land
10. a horizontal passage or drift in a mine
11. any of the successive layers of material that have been deposited with the passage of time to build up and raise the height of the land surface
12. physics the ratio of the magnitude of a physical quantity to an arbitrary magnitude

    sound-pressure level

13. do one's level best
    to make every possible effort; try one's utmost
14. find one's level
    to find one's most suitable place socially, professionally, etc
15. on a level
    on the same horizontal plane as another
16. on the level informal.
    sincere, honest, or genuine

Derived Forms

• ˈlevelness, noun
• ˈlevelly, adverb

Other Words From

• lev·el·ly adverb
• lev·el·ness noun
• an·ti·lev·el·ing adjective
• an·ti·lev·el·ling adjective
• in·ter·lev·el adjective
• non·lev·el adjective
• re·lev·el verb releveled releveling or (especially British) relevelled relevelling
• self-lev·el·ing adjective
• self-lev·el·ling adjective
• un·der·lev·el adjective
• un·lev·el adjective
• un·lev·el·ly adverb
• un·lev·el·ness noun
• un·lev·eled adjective
• un·lev·elled adjective
• well-lev·eled adjective
• well-lev·elled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of level¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun, variant of livel, from Middle French, from unattested Vulgar Latin lībellum, for Latin lībella “plummet line, level,” diminutive of lībra “balance, scales”; the verb is derived from the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of level¹

C14: from Old French livel, from Vulgar Latin lībellum (unattested), from Latin lībella, diminutive of lībra scales

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. find one's (own) level, to attain the place or position merited by one's abilities or achievements:

   He finally found his level as one of the directors of the firm.

2. on the level, Informal. honest; sincere; reliable:

   Is this information on the level?

3. one's level best, one's very best; one's utmost:

   We tried our level best to get here on time.

More idioms and phrases containing level

• do one's (level) best
• on the level

Synonym Study

Level, even, flat, smooth suggest a uniform surface without marked unevenness. That which is level is parallel to the horizon: a level surface; A billiard table must be level. Flat is applied to any plane surface free from marked irregularities: a flat roof. With reference to land or country, flat connotes lowness or unattractiveness; level does not suggest anything derogatory. That which is even is free from irregularities, though not necessarily level or plane: an even land surface with no hills. Smooth suggests a high degree of evenness in any surface, especially to the touch and sometimes to the sight: as smooth as silk.

Example Sentences

“In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

In a recent article, we evaluated sugar's environmental impacts and explored avenues for reducing sugar in the diet to recommended levels either through reducing production or using the saved sugar in environmentally beneficial ways.

From Salon

The impetus behind tariffs is often to level the economic playing field, such as to avoid letting China subsidize production to create monopolies, said Usha Haley, professor of international business at Wichita State University.

From Salon

Trump's unusual transition is rooted deep in his distrust of the current government, which he blames for leveling criminal charges against him, sources close to Trump’s transition team told The Post.

From Salon

The commission must approve exception appointments at the most senior grade, but below this level departments have a free hand to recruit.

From BBC

Related Words

• achievement
• degree
• grade
• stage
• standard
• status