A level
Americannoun
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a public examination requiring advanced knowledge in a subject and taken at the end of secondary school, usually two years after O level.
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a pass in this examination.
noun
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a public examination in a subject taken for the General Certificate of Education ( GCE ), usually at the age of 17–18
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the course leading to this examination
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( as modifier )
A-level maths
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a pass in a particular subject at A level
she has three A levels
Etymology
Origin of A level
1950–55; A(dvanced) level
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A level up from the baggage area, he and his family kept an ear out for the gate announcement.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
A level above 50 indicates an expansion in private sector business activity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
A level shift offers a dramatic experience when you step into the ADU, as the floor drops below to the art studio and the ceiling goes up, creating a sense of spaciousness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2025
Parents were told "lower than expected numbers" meant the curriculum would be "too adversely affected" to provide A level students with "the experience they require and deserve".
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2025
Next month I’m going to take my A level in maths and I’m going to get an A grade.
From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
