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!
Idioms for 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
SYNONYMS FOR level
1, 2 flush.
20 smooth, flatten.
22 raze, demolish, destroy.
24 equalize.
27 direct.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR level ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR level
1 uneven.
2 vertical.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR level ON THESAURUS.COM
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.
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
Democrats successfully argued for the case to be decided first at the state level.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes Green Party presidential ticket from ballot, clearing the way for mail ballots to be sent out|Amy Gardner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
There was no better pitcher in Major League Baseball over the last two seasons than Jacob deGrom,3 and in this shortened season he had taken his performance to another level.
Jacob DeGrom Just Keeps Throwing Faster|Travis Sawchik|September 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
On another level, I’m pleased by the many people who have worked for me and who will take these references and put their blend into it.
Christian Puglisi Is Closing His Influential Copenhagen Restaurants. COVID Is Only Partly to Blame|Rafael Tonon|September 17, 2020|Eater
However, adopting Total Investment Impact would require a level of trust that advertisers may be reticent to give.
NBCUniversal tests new measurement program to prove it can push product sales for advertisers|Tim Peterson|September 17, 2020|Digiday
First, the Apple Watch Series 6, starting at $400, includes a new blood-oxygen-level sensor, an altimeter to measure altitude, and a newer faster processor branded the S6.
Everything announced at Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event today|rhhackettfortune|September 15, 2020|Fortune
“The level of outside support… has not been sufficient enough for them to distance themselves from al Nusra,” Cafarella said.
ISIS Fight Has a Spy Shortage, Intel Chair Says|Kimberly Dozier|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Occasionally, a level will take 20 or more strokes to complete.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Nowhere to be found is the anguish, the drama, the pain of an athlete on that level who considering walking away.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player|William O’Connor|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is, in fact, a distinction in the level of protection.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 14|PunditFact.com|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a personal thing she was working towards, and I felt very invested as well seeing her level of commitment.
Angelina Jolie’s New Muse: The Rise of Jack O’Connell, Star of the WWII Epic ‘Unbroken’|Marlow Stern|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then I was conducted to the boilers, a row of ten, sunk underground in the solid rock, below the level of the shrubbery.
A Month in Yorkshire|Walter White
In a few moments the submarine had climbed back to the level of the tunnel.
Astounding Stories, February, 1931|Various
There the precise punctures of a rabbit track dotted the level snow of the woods.
The Secret of the Storm Country|Grace Miller White
To pass swiftly along over the level yellow road that they had traversed on foot in the morning was very delightful.
Jack the Young Canoeman|George Bird Grinnell
Hence to go and return over the same mile, whether on the level or on the hill-side, takes ½ an hour.
A Tangled Tale|Lewis Carroll
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-headedeven-tempered; steady
verb-els, -ellingor-elledorUS-els, -elingor-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) informalto 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
surveyingto 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
physicsthe ratio of the magnitude of a physical quantity to an arbitrary magnitudesound-pressure level
do one's level bestto make every possible effort; try one's utmost
find one's levelto find one's most suitable place socially, professionally, etc
on a levelon the same horizontal plane as another
on the levelinformalsincere, 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