level
1 of 3noun
lev·el ˈle-vəl 
1
: a device for establishing a horizontal line or plane by means of a bubble in a liquid that shows adjustment to the horizontal by movement to the center of a slightly bowed glass tube
2
: a measurement of the difference of altitude of two points by means of a level
3
: horizontal condition
especially : equilibrium of a fluid marked by a horizontal surface of even altitude
water seeks its own level
4
a
: an approximately horizontal line or surface taken as an index of altitude
Charts were arranged at eye level.
b
: a practically horizontal surface or area (as of land)
the level of the plateau
5
: a position in a scale or rank (as of achievement, significance, or value)
funded at the national level
the job appeals to me on many levels
6
a
: a line or surface that cuts perpendicularly all plumb lines that it meets and hence would everywhere coincide with a surface of still water
b
: the plane of the horizon or a line in it
7
: a horizontal passage in a mine intended for regular working and transportation
8
: a concentration of a constituent especially of a body fluid (such as blood)
a normal blood-sugar level
9
: the magnitude of a quantity considered in relation to an arbitrary reference value
broadly : magnitude, intensity
a high level of hostility
level
2 of 3verb
leveled or levelled; leveling or levelling ˈle-və-liŋ
ˈlev-liŋ
transitive verb
1
: to make (a line or surface) horizontal : make flat or level
level a field
level off a house lot
2
a
: to bring to a horizontal aiming position
b
: aim, direct
leveled a charge of fraud
3
: to bring to a common level or plane : equalize
love levels all ranks
W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert4
a
: to lay level with or as if with the ground : raze
b
: to knock down
leveled him with one punch
5
: to make (something, such as color) even or uniform
6
: to find the heights of different points in (a piece of land) especially with a surveyor's level
intransitive verb
1
: to attain or come to a level
The plane leveled off at 10,000 feet.
see also level up 2
: to aim a gun or other weapon horizontally
3
: to bring persons or things to a level
4
: to deal frankly and openly
level
3 of 3adjective
1
a
: having no part higher than another : conforming to the curvature of the liquid parts of the earth's surface
b
: parallel with the plane of the horizon : horizontal
2
a
: even or unvarying in height
b
: equal in advantage, progression, or standing
c
: proceeding monotonously or uneventfully
d(1)
: steady, unwavering
gave him a level look
(2)
: calm, unexcited
spoke in level tones
3
: reasonable, balanced
arrive at a justly proportional and level judgment on this affair Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill4
: distributed evenly
level stress
5
: being a surface perpendicular to all lines of force in a field of force : equipotential
6
: suited to a particular rank or plane of ability or achievement
top-level thinking
7
: of or relating to the spreading out of a cost or charge in even payments over a period of time
levelly
ˈle-və(l)-lē
adverb levelness
ˈle-vəl-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
Noun
- degree
- echelon
- footing
- place
- position
- rank
- ranking
- reach(es)
- rung
- situation
- standing
- station
- status
- stratum
Verb
- balance
- equalize
- equate
- even
Adjective
- even
- flat
- flush
- plane
- smooth
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The pictures were hung on the wall at eye level. The pictures were hung at different levels. There was a high level of alcohol in his blood. a normal level of intelligence Prices have risen to a new level. She rose to the level of manager. She has reached a rare level of financial success. These problems affect people at all levels of society. Can this problem be dealt with at a national level or must it be addressed at an international level? Verb They will level the field. We need to level the garden before we plant anything. The earthquake leveled the city. He leveled his opponent with a right hook. The robber leveled a gun at his head. Several complaints have been leveled at the store. Criticism has been leveled against the government for not responding to this crisis. Adjective We pitched the tent on level ground. an airplane in level flight Interest rates have remained level. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Mario Aguilar, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 Weekly initial claims averaged about 214,000 from the beginning of the year to early September, about the same level as the 2019 weekly average of around 218,000. Bryan Mena, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Sun Belt teams are on a role but this might be asking too much to travel for a second straight week cross-country and beat or stay close to a high-level opponent. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 15 Sep. 2022 Although Neom is set to operate as its own semi-autonomous jurisdiction, the 40 percent incentives scheme put it on the same level as that announced by the Saudi Film Commission last year. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2022 More prisoners, corrections officers, the current and former directors of the Department of Corrections, and other high level administrators are expected to take the stand this week. Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 In February, the number of manufacturing jobs sat at 560,000, below the same level a year earlier. Nikolas Lanum, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 Despite Biden’s attempts to hark back to Kennedy and his space program, the current initiative lacks that same level of budgetary support. Zeke Miller And Carla K. Johnson, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Despite Biden’s attempts to hark back to Kennedy and his space program, the current initiative lacks that same level of budgetary support. Zeke Miller And Carla K. Johnson, Chron, 12 Sep. 2022 Kristine Gill, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 The leaks, Hall explains in the documentary via archival interviews, were intended to level the playing field of intelligence between America and Russia, to deter each other from rushing toward nuclear warfare. Manori Ravindran, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Three new and notable Napa tasting rooms level up the options for top-shelf vinous experiences in the valley. Sunset Magazine, 29 Aug. 2022 But power-hungry visual professionals should know these M1 Pro and Max laptops could level up to M2 before the end of the year. Joanna Stern, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 The $85 million, Taj Mahal-like facility will level the playing field, enhance the player experience and maximize efficiency for Napier’s program. Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2022 This Word of the Day book from Merriam-Webster will level up everyone's brains. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 16 Aug. 2022 Remote work, telemedicine and distance education could level out socioeconomic disparity and close the digital divide. Cheri Beranek, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Justice, long overdue for Thorpe and Bright, helped level the playing field. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 July 2022 Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2022 About pro-level VR headsets and things that can be untethered and have a great experience and are not heavy. Wired Staff, WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 Prices for the both the base S and the mid-level SV are up by $360, with the S costing $36,295 and the SV costing $39,115. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 Sep. 2022 So Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon were retained via Bird Rights, with Caleb Martin re-signed with the lower-tier mid-level exception that kept the Heat from being hard-capped. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Eliminate dead space toward the bottom of an attic closet by adding narrow shelves for shoes or a multi-level shoe rack. Marisa Donnelly, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2022 Caesars Sportsbook has a multi-level offer that gives immediate benefits on multiple fronts. Xl Media, cleveland, 30 Aug. 2022 This four-part documentary focuses on multi-level-marketing clothing company LuLaRoe, which was accused of being a pyramid scheme by some of its former workers. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 Blessed are the peacemaking, rights-promoting mid-level special envoys, but this is a crisis for Presidents and Prime Ministers. Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
Zhang previously worked in high-level roles at Sanofi and Pfizer. Mario Aguilar, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 Weekly initial claims averaged about 214,000 from the beginning of the year to early September, about the same level as the 2019 weekly average of around 218,000. Bryan Mena, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Sun Belt teams are on a role but this might be asking too much to travel for a second straight week cross-country and beat or stay close to a high-level opponent. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 15 Sep. 2022 Although Neom is set to operate as its own semi-autonomous jurisdiction, the 40 percent incentives scheme put it on the same level as that announced by the Saudi Film Commission last year. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2022 More prisoners, corrections officers, the current and former directors of the Department of Corrections, and other high level administrators are expected to take the stand this week. Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 In February, the number of manufacturing jobs sat at 560,000, below the same level a year earlier. Nikolas Lanum, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 Despite Biden’s attempts to hark back to Kennedy and his space program, the current initiative lacks that same level of budgetary support. Zeke Miller And Carla K. Johnson, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Despite Biden’s attempts to hark back to Kennedy and his space program, the current initiative lacks that same level of budgetary support. Zeke Miller And Carla K. Johnson, Chron, 12 Sep. 2022 Verb
In some ways, perhaps indirectly, software such as OnBoard can level the playing field for up and coming board leaders to enter the ring. Kristine Gill, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 The leaks, Hall explains in the documentary via archival interviews, were intended to level the playing field of intelligence between America and Russia, to deter each other from rushing toward nuclear warfare. Manori Ravindran, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Three new and notable Napa tasting rooms level up the options for top-shelf vinous experiences in the valley. Sunset Magazine, 29 Aug. 2022 But power-hungry visual professionals should know these M1 Pro and Max laptops could level up to M2 before the end of the year. Joanna Stern, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 The $85 million, Taj Mahal-like facility will level the playing field, enhance the player experience and maximize efficiency for Napier’s program. Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2022 This Word of the Day book from Merriam-Webster will level up everyone's brains. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 16 Aug. 2022 Remote work, telemedicine and distance education could level out socioeconomic disparity and close the digital divide. Cheri Beranek, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Justice, long overdue for Thorpe and Bright, helped level the playing field. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 July 2022 Adjective
Located at 24 East 64th Street, The Townhouse is a 1,752-square-foot multi-level showroom that will showcase a rotating selection of bespoke furnishings and collectible pieces from a global roster of incredible designers in a residential-like space. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2022 About pro-level VR headsets and things that can be untethered and have a great experience and are not heavy. Wired Staff, WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 Prices for the both the base S and the mid-level SV are up by $360, with the S costing $36,295 and the SV costing $39,115. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 Sep. 2022 So Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon were retained via Bird Rights, with Caleb Martin re-signed with the lower-tier mid-level exception that kept the Heat from being hard-capped. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Eliminate dead space toward the bottom of an attic closet by adding narrow shelves for shoes or a multi-level shoe rack. Marisa Donnelly, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2022 Caesars Sportsbook has a multi-level offer that gives immediate benefits on multiple fronts. Xl Media, cleveland, 30 Aug. 2022 This four-part documentary focuses on multi-level-marketing clothing company LuLaRoe, which was accused of being a pyramid scheme by some of its former workers. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 Blessed are the peacemaking, rights-promoting mid-level special envoys, but this is a crisis for Presidents and Prime Ministers. Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, plumb line, from Anglo-French livel, from Vulgar Latin *libellum, alteration of Latin libella, from diminutive of libra weight, balance
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing level
Kids Definition
level 1 of 3
noun
lev·el ˈle-vəl
1
: a horizontal line or surface usually at a named height
Hold it at eye level.
2
: a step or stage in height, position, or rank
She rose to the level of manager.
3
: a device used (as by a carpenter) to find a horizontal line or surface
level
2 of 3verb
leveled or levelled; leveling or levelling
: to make or become horizontal, flat, or even
level
3 of 3adjective
1
: having a flat even surface Find a level place to set up the tent.
2
: horizontal entry 1
… the bridge, instead of rising, went across just level … Anna Sewell, Black Beauty
Anna Sewell, Black Beauty3
: of the same height or rank : even
4
: steady and cool in judgment
The rescuers kept level heads.
Medical Definition
level
noun
lev·el ˈlev-əl
1
: a characteristic and fairly uniform concentration of a constituent of the blood or other body fluid
a normal blood-sugar level
2
a
: a degree of ability or aptitude or measure of performance
b
: a grade of mental and emotional development or maturity
evidence as to levels of personality development (e.g., anal, oral) G. P. Murdock
G. P. Murdocklevel 1 of 3
noun
as in position
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement a young karate student ready to rise to the next level in his chosen art of self-defense Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- position
- ranking
- echelon
- rank
- degree
- place
- status
- standing
- situation
- stratum
- footing
- station
- rung
- condition
- reach(es)
- capacity
- function
- rating
- order
- walk
- estate
level
2 of 3verb
1
as in to balance
to make equal in amount, degree, or status we'll give both teams the same equipment so as to level the playing field Synonyms & Similar Words
- balance
- adjust
- equate
- equalize
- even
- compensate
- accommodate
- standardize
- counterbalance
- equilibrate
- normalize
- equipoise
- fit
- regularize
- democratize
- homogenize
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disequilibrate
2
as in to smooth
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps the construction workers leveled the ground before laying a foundation for the new house Synonyms & Similar Words
- smooth
- even
- plane
- rake
- trim
- shave
- flatten
- surface
- crop
- clip
- lay
- smoothen
- comb
- pare
- card
- prune
- press
- spread
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rough
- roughen
- wrinkle
- pit
- bend
- kink
- dent
- coarsen
- rumple
3
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal the marksman leveled his gun at the target and fired Synonyms & Similar Words
- aim
- direct
- set
- head
- focus
- sight
- train
- cast
- hold
- bend
- pinpoint
- face
- steer
- concentrate
- incline
- orient
- bear
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- curve
- avert
- deflect
- shunt
- detour
- divert
- sidetrack
- rechannel
4
as in to drop
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall the boxer leveled his opponent with a single blow Synonyms & Similar Words
- drop
- floor
- down
- fell
- hit
- smack
- prostrate
- topple
- knock down
- pound
- punch
- slam
- knock over
- mow (down)
- bowl (down or over)
- slap
- poke
- bang
- overthrow
- thump
- knock out
- whack
- throw down
- jab
- swipe
- belt
- kayo
- slug
- hammer
- sock
- paste
- wallop
- slog
- swat
- whale
- bash
- bludgeon
- clobber
- smite
- thwack
- KO
5
as in to demolish
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces an old warehouse that was leveled to build a parking lot Synonyms & Similar Words
- demolish
- tear down
- pull down
- total
- raze
- destroy
- dynamite
- finish
- unbuild
- eradicate
- wipe out
- waste
- overturn
- blow up
- obliterate
- ruin
- decimate
- wreck
- abolish
- scourge
- extirpate
- annihilate
- flatten
- dash
- ravage
- dissolve
- smash
- pulverize
- crack up
- devastate
- unmake
- devour
- crush
- do in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- raise
- build
- construct
- form
- erect
- restore
- rebuild
- create
- shape
- renew
- make
- put up
- manufacture
- fashion
- forge
- renovate
- fabricate
level
3 of 3adjective
1
as in plane
having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities looked for a level place to land the plane Synonyms & Similar Words
- plane
- even
- exact
- horizontal
- smooth
- flat
- flush
- vertical
- uniform
- regular
- true
- straight
- aligned
- plumb
- tabular
- alined
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- uneven
- coarse
- rough
- lumpy
- bumpy
- warped
- irregular
- inexact
- undulating
- unsmoothed
- wavy
- undulatory
- unaligned
- pitted
- pocky
- pockmarked
2
as in calm
free from emotional or mental agitation in a much more level mood now that the worst is over Synonyms & Similar Words
- calm
- serene
- composed
- peaceful
- collected
- equal
- tranquil
- placid
- steady
- together
- at peace
- possessed
- smooth
- undisturbed
- unperturbed
- confident
- unruffled
- centered
- sedate
- limpid
- unshaken
- cool
- relaxed
- recollected
- relieved
- coolheaded
- mellow
- unworried
- untroubled
- even
- nonchalant
- unshakable
- detached
- self-possessed
- self-composed
- unflappable
- imperturbable
- dispassionate
- equable
- well-balanced
- assured
- carefree
- bovine
- disciplined
- aloof
- breezy
- even-keeled
- easygoing
- nerveless
- indifferent
- sober
- tranquilized
- well-adjusted
- affable
- unconcerned
- tranquillized
- laid-back
- phlegmatic
- loosey-goosey
- impassive
- stolid
- self-controlled
- devil-may-care
- self-contained
- happy-go-lucky
- self-assured
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disturbed
- perturbed
- upset
- flustered
- agitated
- unhinged
- distressed
- worried
- anxious
- unglued
- bothered
- nervous
- uneasy
- unsettled
- tense
- unstrung
- discomposed
- unstable
- jittery
- restless
- unquiet
- jumpy
- skittish
- uptight
- high-strung
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of level are even, flat, plane, and smooth. While all these words mean "having a surface without bends, curves, or irregularities," level applies to a horizontal surface that lies on a line parallel with the horizon.
the vast prairies are nearly level
In some situations, the words even and level are roughly equivalent. However, even applies to a surface that is noticeably flat or level or to a line that is observably straight.
trim the hedge so it is even
The meanings of flat and level largely overlap; however, flat applies to a surface devoid of noticeable curvatures, prominences, or depressions.
the work surface must be flat
The words plane and level are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plane applies to any real or imaginary flat surface in which a straight line between any two points on it lies wholly within that surface.
the plane sides of a crystal
The synonyms smooth and level are sometimes interchangeable, but smooth applies especially to a polished surface free of irregularities.
a smooth skating rink
Phrases Containing level
- impressibility
- impressible
- impressing
- impression
- impression cylinder
- impressionabilities
- impressionability
- impressionable
- impressionableness
- impressionablenesses
- impressional
- impressionally
- impressionary
- impressionism
- impressionisms
- impressionist
- impressionistic
- impressionistically
- impressionists
- impressions
- impressive
- impressively
- impressiveness
- impressivenesses
- impressment