level
having no part higher than another; having a flat or even surface.
being in a plane parallel to the plane of the horizon; horizontal.
a device used for determining or adjusting something to a horizontal surface.
Surveying.
Also called sur·vey·or's lev·el. an instrument for observing levels, having a sighting device, usually telescopic, and capable of being made precisely horizontal.
an observation made with this instrument.
an imaginary line or surface everywhere at right angles to the plumb line.
the horizontal line or plane in which anything is situated, with regard to its elevation.
a horizontal position or condition.
an extent of land approximately horizontal and unbroken by irregularities.
a level or flat surface.
a position with respect to a given or specified height: The water rose to a level of 30 feet.
an extent, measure, or degree of intensity, achievement, etc.: a high level of sound; an average level of writing skill.
Linguistics. a major subdivision of linguistic structure, as phonology, morphology, or syntax, often viewed as hierarchically ordered.: Compare component (def. 6a), stratum (def. 8).
Mining. the interconnected horizontal mine workings at a particular elevation or depth: There had been a cave-in on the 1,500-foot level.
(in a video game or role-playing game)
a discrete section in game design or narrative that ends with a culminating event, as a boss battle.
to make (a surface) level, even, or flat: to level ground before building.
to raise or lower to a particular level or position; to make horizontal.
to bring (something) to the level of the ground; raze: They leveled the trees to make way for the new highway.
Informal. to knock down (a person): He leveled his opponent with one blow.
to make equal, as in status or condition.
to make even or uniform, as coloring.
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.”
to aim or point (a weapon, criticism, etc.) at a mark or objective: He leveled his criticism at the college as a whole.
Surveying. to find the relative elevation of different points in (land), as with a level.
to bring things or persons to a common level.
to aim a weapon, criticism, etc., at a mark or objective.
Surveying.
to take a level.
to use a leveling instrument.
to speak truthfully and openly (often followed by with): You're not leveling with me about your trip to Chicago.
Obsolete. to direct the mind, purpose, etc., at something.
Obsolete. in a level, direct, or even way or line.
level off,
Aeronautics. to maintain a constant altitude after a climb or descent.
to become stable; reach a constant or limit.
to make even or smooth.
level up,
(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.
to perform at a higher standard than expected, or show vast improvement: It’s possible for a small business to level up and land big clients.Your date is smokin’ hot—way to level up, bro!
Idioms about level
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.
one's level best, one's very best; one's utmost: We tried our level best to get here on time.
on the level, Informal. honest; sincere; reliable: Is this information on the level?
Origin of level
1synonym study For level
Other words for level
Opposites for level
Other words from level
- 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, re·lev·eled, re·lev·el·ing or (especially British) re·lev·elled, re·lev·el·ling.
- 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-leveled, adjective
- well-levelled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use level in a sentence
“The risk of covid-19 spreading in a school is directly related to the level of covid-19 spread in the community and safety measures in schools,” he wrote.
Montgomery County urges private schools to consider move to all-virtual learning | Donna St. George | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostWhen levels of community spread are very high, the chance of spread at school, too, is certainly higher.
Schools are not spreading covid-19. This new data explains why. | Emily Oster | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostThe morning is a bit brighter than the afternoon, as high-level clouds increase.
D.C.-area forecast: Mainly clear skies plus warmer temperatures today and tomorrow | A. Camden Walker | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostEconomists say they are concerned about the continued high level of job losses more than eight months into the pandemic, as the virus surges anew.
Unemployment claims rise as pandemic shutdowns increase nationwide | Eli Rosenberg | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostThat level, said Thomas Rowlands-Rees, BloombergNEF’s head of North American research, could become a “new normal” if people change driving habits and the power sector continues to shift to renewable power.
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions set to drop to lowest level in three decades | Steven Mufson | November 19, 2020 | Washington Post
And demonizing the women leveling these charges is despicable.
Does political and social equality really have to entail a leveling of sexual difference?
How Straight World Stole ‘Gay’: The Last Gasp of the ‘Lumbersexual’ | Tim Teeman | November 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn fact, the data seem to show positron counts leveling off at high energy, but things are still pretty messy.
Still No Dark Matter from Space Station Experiment | Matthew R. Francis | September 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIs a drone based missile in Pakistan of any practical difference than a French battery leveling a Vietnamese village?
Proponents, mostly Republicans, see vouchers as leveling the field and broadening choice for families.
Have we not the right to decide in which way the leveling shall be effected—the equation be formed?
The Education of American Girls | Anna Callender BrackettTad drove his pony straight at the man who, by this time, was leveling the pistol at Professor Zepplin.
The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge | Frank Gee PatchinIn this attempt, they are unconsciously digging away her very foundations; they are leveling her proud walls with the earth.
Aurelian | William WareThese wilderness empires of our National Parks have been snatched from leveling forces of development.
Your National Parks | Enos A. MillsHer fingers closed on the stock of the pistol, and she faced Chavis, who was a few feet away, leveling the big weapon at him.
The Range Boss | Charles Alden Seltzer
British Dictionary definitions for level
/ (ˈlɛvəl) /
on a horizontal plane
having a surface of completely equal height
being of the same height as something else
(of quantities to be measured, as in recipes) even with the top of the cup, spoon, etc
equal to or even with (something or someone else)
not having or showing inconsistency or irregularities
Also: level-headed even-tempered; steady
(tr sometimes foll by off) to make (a surface) horizontal, level, or even
to make (two or more people or things) equal, as in position or status
(tr) to raze to the ground
(tr) to knock (a person) down by or as if by a blow
(tr) to direct (a gaze, criticism, etc) emphatically at someone
(intr often foll by with) informal to be straightforward and frank
(intr; foll by off or out) to manoeuvre an aircraft into a horizontal flight path after a dive, climb, or glide
(often foll by at) to aim (a weapon) horizontally
surveying to determine the elevation of a section of (land), sighting through a levelling instrument to a staff at successive pairs or points
a horizontal datum line or plane
a device, such as a spirit level, for determining whether a surface is horizontal
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
a reading of the difference in elevation of two points taken with such an instrument
position or status in a scale of values
amount or degree of progress; stage
a specified vertical position; altitude
a horizontal line or plane with respect to which measurement of elevation is based: sea level
a flat even surface or area of land
a horizontal passage or drift in a mine
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
physics the ratio of the magnitude of a physical quantity to an arbitrary magnitude: sound-pressure level
do one's level best to make every possible effort; try one's utmost
find one's level to find one's most suitable place socially, professionally, etc
on a level on the same horizontal plane as another
on the level informal sincere, honest, or genuine
Origin of level
1Derived forms of level
- levelly, adverb
- levelness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with level
In addition to the idioms beginning with level
- level best
- level off
- level with someone
also see:
- do one's (level) best
- on the level
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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