noun | adjective | verb
levellevel1 /ˈlɛvəl/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1
AMOUNT the amount, degree, or number of something, as compared to another amount, degree, or number: level of There was a low level of interest in the conference.at a/the level Temperatures will stay at these levels until Friday. Stock prices were at their highest level since June. The noise level in the room was unbearable.2HEIGHT the height or position of something in relation to the ground or to another thing: Check the water level in the car radiator.at a/the level Your arms should be at the same level as your desk. Do not raise the weight above shoulder level. Her face was on a level with his (=at the same level as his). → see also eye level, sea level3STANDARD a particular standard of skill or ability in a subject, sport, etc.: The teacher said Alice should be taking higher-level math courses.level of He has a high level of fluency in English.at a/the level Few athletes can compete at the international level.4FLOOR/GROUND a floor or piece of ground, especially when considered in relation to another floor or piece of ground that is higher or lower: Didn’t we park the car on Level 2?5POSITION/RANK a particular position in a system that has different ranks: at a/the level Training is offered at every level in the company. The decision was made at senior levels.local/state/federal level No research was being done at the federal level. She was involved in high-level talks on the issue (=discussions between important people).6WAY OF UNDERSTANDING a way of considering or understanding something: We can find meaning in the story on many different levels.on a practical/personal etc. level They never got along on either a personal or a professional level.7TOOL science a tool used for checking that a surface is flat8be on the level informal to be honest: Do you think his offer is on the level?9descend/sink/stoop to somebody’s level to lower your standards so that you become as bad as the person or thing mentioned: I would never stoop to your level.[Origin: 1300–1400 Old French livel, from Latin libella, from libra weight, balance]COLLOCATIONSadjectives/nouns + levela high level The level of salt in his diet was too high.a low level The level of violent crime is lower than ten years ago.a minimum level Schools are guaranteed at least a minimum level of funding.a maximum level The amount of chemicals in the water was well below the maximum level allowable.an acceptable level We believe that this is an acceptable level of risk.a record level (=the highest level ever known) Sales have reached record levels.noise/pollution level Noise levels are unacceptably high.price/income/poverty level Income levels failed to keep up with inflation.skill level The reading program has raised younger students’ skill levels.stress/anxiety level Exercise helps a lot with my stress levels.energy/fitness level Her fitness level is better than that of most 20-year-olds.verbsa level rises/goes up/increases The level of unemployment has increased.a level falls/goes down/decreases Pollution levels have fallen slightly.achieve/reach a level China’s imports of wheat reached record levels.remain/stay at a level Bank fees are likely to remain at current levels.maintain a level It’s difficult to maintain the same level of physical fitness.increase a level Healthy eating can increase your energy level.reduce a level He made an effort to reduce his stress levels. noun | adjective | verb
levellevel2 ●●○ adjective 1FLAT a level surface is flat and does not slope in any direction: level ground The floor isn’t level.► see thesaurus at flat12be level a)two things that are level are at the same height as each other SYN even: Keep your shoulders level.level with Your eyes should be level with the top of the computer screen. b)if two or more people or things are level, none of them is behind or in front of the others SYN even: level with He stayed level with me, riding on the path to my right. The red boat drew level with us.3CALM a voice, expression, etc. that is level is calm and determined: Her cool level gaze was disturbing. → see also a clear/cool/level head at head1 (12)4a level playing field a situation in which different companies, countries, etc. can all compete fairly with each other because no one has special advantages: We just want our exports to compete on a level playing field.5do your level best to try as hard as possible to do something: I’ll do my level best to help you.6level spoonful/teaspoon etc. an amount of a substance, that is just enough to fill a spoon, used as a measure in cooking noun | adjective | verb
levellevel3 ●●○ verb [transitive] 1to knock down or completely destroy a building or area: The storm leveled hundreds of houses.► see thesaurus at destroy2level a charge/accusation/criticism etc. [usually passive] to publicly criticize someone or say that someone is responsible for a crime, mistake, etc.: level at/against Similar accusations of corruption have been leveled at other organizations.3to make something flat and even: Workers leveled the wet concrete with a piece of wood.4level the playing field to make a situation fairer so that different companies, countries, or people can all compete without anyone having special advantages: The Internet helps level the playing field by making information widely available.level something at somebody phrasal verb to point something, such as a weapon, at someone: A gun was leveled at Ron’s head.level off/out phrasal verb1 to stop going up or down, and continue at the same height or amount: The plane climbed to 20,000 feet, then leveled off. The city’s murder rate has begun to level off.2level something ↔ off/out to make something flat and smoothlevel with somebody phrasal verb informal to speak honestly to someone, after hiding some facts from him or her for a period of time: I wish the president would level with the American people.