level

[ lev-uhl ]

/ ˈlɛv əl /

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See synonyms for: level / leveled / leveling / levelled on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

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

equal, as one thing with another or two or more things with one another.

even, equable, or uniform.

filled to a height even with the rim of a container: a level teaspoon of salt.

mentally well-balanced; sensible; rational: to keep a level head in a crisis.

noun

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.
spirit level.

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.

a position or plane in a graded scale of values; status; rank: His acting was on the level of an amateur. They associated only with those on their own economic level.

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.
character level.

verb (used with object), lev·eled, lev·el·ing or (especially British) lev·elled, lev·el·ling.

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.

verb (used without object), lev·eled, lev·el·ing or (especially British) lev·elled, lev·el·ling.

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.

adverb

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

Verb Phrases

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!

OTHER WORDS FOR level

1, 2 flush.

20 smooth, flatten.

22 raze, demolish, destroy.

24 equalize.

27 direct.

See synonyms for level on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR level

1 uneven.

2 vertical.

See antonyms for level on Thesaurus.com

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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

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

synonym study for level

1, 2. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM level

lev·el·ly, adverblev·el·ness, nounan·ti·lev·el·ing, adjectivean·ti·lev·el·ling, adjective

in·ter·lev·el, adjectivenon·lev·el, adjectivere·lev·el, verb, re·lev·eled, re·lev·el·ing or (especially British) re·lev·elled, re·lev·el·ling.self-lev·el·ing, adjectiveself-lev·el·ling, adjectiveun·der·lev·el, adjectiveun·lev·el, adjectiveun·lev·el·ly, adverbun·lev·el·ness, nounun·lev·eled, adjectiveun·lev·elled, adjectivewell-leveled, adjectivewell-levelled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use level in a sentence

The socks are available with different cushion levels and in low-cut or crew versions.
The hottest gifts to buy for the friend who’s always cold|Sandra Gutierrez G.|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
“We have to scale up all of the things that we already know, but we have to take them to another level because this is a crisis like none that’s ever really faced humanity before,” Hagon said.
Natural disasters are increasing. The world’s poorest are left to fend for themselves.|Jariel Arvin|November 20, 2020|Vox
“We’re very covid-conscious,” CBS News president Susan Zirinsky said at the time, noting that only an “adequate” level of in-person staffing would be used.
Despite precautions, CBS headquarters reports 15 coronavirus cases amid nationwide surge|Jeremy Barr|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Oxford University researchers say they think the alerts can be helpful at all levels of uptake.
A covid-fighting tool is buried in your phone. Turn it on.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

In 2009, the ambition of the level design here was hampered by technology.
‘Demon’s Souls’ review: The ideal PlayStation 5 launch game|Gene Park|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
When it comes to the increasing number of rape allegations leveled at Bill Cosby, the smoke is becoming impenetrable.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014 |Kevin Fallon|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“They are innocent of the charges leveled against them,” a statement issued by Farmer, who also represents the accused, said.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay|Justin Jones|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He called for the homes of their families to be leveled “to the ground” and their relatives to be exiled from Chechnya.
Putin’s Favorite Acolyte Terrorizes Human Rights Activists|Anna Nemtsova|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many historians have leveled criticism at the Code, arguing that it was too conservative and supportive of the bourgeois.
Napoleon Was a Dynamite Dictator|J.P. O’Malley|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His stand-up career leveled up after Comedy Central specials that aired in 2009 and 2012.
Is John Mulaney the Next Seinfeld?|Kevin Fallon|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Motor Matt walked toward the man with the leveled revolver, the wood-hauler cried out a startled "Madre mia!"
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Before he could do anything with it, Clip grabbed it out of his hand, leveled it after the receding form, and pulled the trigger.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Phyllis reached over, picked up the gun, and leveled it calmly at the bandits.
The Adventure Girls at K Bar O|Clair Blank
Half a dozen pistols were leveled at the boy, and as many machetes flashed in the air.
Young Glory and the Spanish Cruiser|Walter Fenton Mott
The earth at the bottom of the cut (E) was leveled and made solid with heavy rammers .
The Private Life of the Romans|Harold Whetstone Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for level

level

/ (ˈlɛvəl) /

adjective

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

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

(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

noun

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 landSee 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 basedsea 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 magnitudesound-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

Derived forms of level

levelly, adverblevelness, noun

Word Origin for level

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

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

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

level

OTHER WORDS FOR level

OPPOSITES FOR level

Idioms about level

Origin of level

synonym study for level

OTHER WORDS FROM level

Words related to level

How to use level in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for level

Derived forms of level

Word Origin for level

Other Idioms and Phrases with level