Level — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈle-vəl/ lev·el

Meaning & Definition of Level

Level (noun)

  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

Level (verb)

  1. to make (a line or surface) horizontal, make flat or level
  2. to bring to a horizontal aiming position
  3. aim, direct

Level (adjective)

  1. having no part higher than another, conforming to the curvature of the liquid parts of the earth's surface
  2. parallel with the plane of the horizon, horizontal
  3. even or unvarying in height

Level (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: degree, echelon, footing, place, position, rank, ranking, reach(es), rung, situation, standing, station, status, stratum
    related: condition, estate, order, walk, capacity, function, rating

Level (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make equal in amount, degree, or status

    "we'll give both teams the same equipment so as to level the playing field"

    similar: balance, equalize, equate, even
    related: equilibrate, equipoise, accommodate, adjust, compensate, fit, counterbalance, homogenize, normalize, regularize, standardize, democratize
    near: disequilibrate

  2. to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps

    "the construction workers leveled the ground before laying a foundation for the new house"

    similar: even, flatten, plane, smooth, smoothen
    related: clip, crop, pare, prune, shave, trim, lay, press, spread, card, comb, rake, surface
    opposite: rough, roughen
    near: coarsen, rumple, wrinkle, bend, kink, dent, pit

  3. to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal

    "the marksman leveled his gun at the target and fired"

    similar: aim, bend, cast, direct, head, hold, pinpoint, set, train
    related: sight, bear, face, concentrate, focus, incline, orient, steer
    near: avert, curve, deflect, detour, divert, rechannel, shunt, sidetrack

  4. to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall

    "the boxer leveled his opponent with a single blow"

    similar: bowl (down or over), down, drop, fell, floor, knock down, knock over, mow (down), prostrate
    related: kayo, knock out, KO, overthrow, throw down, topple, bang, bash, belt, bludgeon, clobber, hammer, hit, jab, paste, poke, pound, punch, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale

  5. to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces

    "an old warehouse that was leveled to build a parking lot"

    similar: demolish, pull down, raze, tear down, unbuild
    related: blow up, dynamite, abolish, annihilate, crack up, crush, dash, decimate, destroy, devastate, devour, dissolve, do in, eradicate, extirpate, finish, flatten, obliterate, overturn, pulverize, ravage, ruin, scourge, smash, total, unmake, waste, wipe out, wreck
    near: build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rebuild, renew, renovate, restore, create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, make, manufacture, shape

Level (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities

    "looked for a level place to land the plane"

    similar: even, flat, flush, plane, smooth
    related: exact, uniform, aligned, regular, true, horizontal, tabular, plumb, straight, vertical
    opposite: bumpy, coarse, lumpy, rough, uneven, unsmoothed
    near: inexact, irregular, unaligned, warped, undulating, undulatory, wavy, pitted, pockmarked, pocky

  2. free from emotional or mental agitation

    "in a much more level mood now that the worst is over"

    similar: calm, collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, equal, limpid, peaceful, placid, possessed, recollected, sedate, self-composed, self-possessed, serene, smooth, together, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unruffled, unshaken, untroubled, unworried, at peace
    related: even, even-keeled, steady, well-adjusted, well-balanced, imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable, centered, disciplined, equable, self-contained, self-controlled, affable, breezy, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, loosey-goosey, mellow, carefree, nonchalant, unconcerned, assured, confident, self-assured, aloof, detached, dispassionate, indifferent, bovine, impassive, phlegmatic, sober, stolid, relaxed, relieved, tranquilized
    opposite: agitated, discomposed, disturbed, flustered, perturbed, unglued, unhinged, unstrung, upset
    near: anxious, bothered, distressed, uneasy, unquiet, unsettled, worried, jittery, jumpy, nervous, restless, skittish, tense, high-strung, unstable, uptight

Related Entry: Entry-level (adjective)

Entry-level is a different word from Level. The synonyms below are for entry-level, not for level.

  1. at the level of someone who is just starting a job or career

    "The company is looking to fill several entry-level positions."

    similar: beginning, fresh, green, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be, amateur, amateurish, dilettante, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, curbstone, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, crude, primitive, unfinished, unpolished, incapable, incompetent, talentless, unable, unfit, ungifted, untalented
    opposite: able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous, gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, experienced, practiced, seasoned, veteran, educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, versed, all-around, ambidextrous, versatile, well-rounded, finished, polished, slick, ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso

Related Entry: High-level (adjective)

High-level is a different word from Level. The synonyms below are for high-level, not for level.

  1. of great importance or high rank

    "These military secrets are known only to a few high-level government officials."

    similar: senior, top, arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, foremost, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one, numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign, supreme, distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior, important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant, incomparable, matchless, unequaled, unparalleled, unsurpassed, celebrated, famed, famous, renowned
    opposite: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant, collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary, last, least

Related Entry: On the level (phrase)

On the level is a different word from Level. The synonyms below are for on the level, not for level.

  1. free from any intent to deceive or impress others

    "We asked her opinion because we knew she would be on the level with us."

    similar: artless, genuine, guileless, honest, ingenuous, innocent, naive, natural, real, simple, sincere, true, unaffected, unpretending, unpretentious
    related: childlike, dewy-eyed, gee-whiz, impressionable, inexperienced, malleable, persuadable, persuasible, simpleminded, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed, spontaneous, unforced, unstudied, candid, direct, frank, free, free-spoken, open, openhearted, plain, plainspoken, single-minded, straight, straightforward, unguarded, trustful, trusting, exploitable, gullible, susceptible, unwary
    opposite: affected, artful, artificial, assuming, dishonest, dissembling, dissimulating, fake, false, guileful, insincere, phony, pretentious
    near: critical, cynical, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, wary, cosmopolitan, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise, civilized, cultivated, cultured, polished, refined, crooked, deceitful, deceptive, devious, double-dealing, hypocritical, manipulative, two-faced, arch, calculating, canny, crafty, cunning, designing, foxy, knavish, scheming, sharp, shifty, shrewd, slick, slippery, sly, subtle, tricky, underhanded, wily, flattering, mealymouthed, smooth, sycophantic, unctuous, feigned, forced, strained

Related Entry: Low-level (adjective)

Low-level is a different word from Level. The synonyms below are for low-level, not for level.

  1. as in lower, smaller

    similar: junior, lesser, lower, petty, smaller, subordinate, under, inferior, mean, minor, secondary, second-class, second-rate, average, common, fair, middling, ordinary, amiss, bad, defective, unsatisfactory, wrong, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable, littler, slighter, jerkwater, low-rent, one-horse, small-time, two-bit
    opposite: greater, higher, superior, major, more, primary, senior, choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, high-grade, premium, prime, select, selected, acceptable, adequate, sufficient

Related Entry: Split level (noun)

Split level is a different word from Level. The synonyms below are for split level, not for level.

  1. as in ranch, ranch house

    similar: duplex, ranch, ranch house, saltbox, semi (chiefly British), townhome, town house, tract house, triplex, bungalow, cabin, casita, chalet, cottage, farmhouse, grange, hacienda, homestead, castle, château, countryseat, estate, hall, manor, manor house, mansion, McMansion, palace, villa, hermitage, manse, parsonage, rectory, vicarage, hooch (slang), hovel, hut, hutch, shack, shanty, accommodations, housing, nest, residency, shelter, apartment, apartment house, condo, condominium, flat, tenement, tenement house, walk-up, penthouse, salon, suite, barracks, billet, boardinghouse, dorm, dormitory, flophouse, lodging house, lodgment, room(s), rooming house

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Level

The most common words with a similar meaning to Level:

degree, echelon, footing, place, position, rank, ranking, reach(es), rung, situation, standing, station, status, stratum, balance, equalize, equate, even, flatten, plane, smooth, smoothen, aim, bend, cast, direct, head, hold, pinpoint, set, train, bowl (down or over), down, drop, fell, floor, knock down, knock over, mow (down), prostrate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Level

Words with the opposite meaning of Level:

rough, roughen, bumpy, coarse, lumpy, uneven, unsmoothed, agitated, discomposed, disturbed, flustered, perturbed, unglued, unhinged, unstrung, upset

Related Words for Level

condition, estate, order, walk, capacity, function, rating, equilibrate, equipoise, accommodate, adjust, compensate, fit, counterbalance, homogenize, normalize, regularize, standardize, democratize, clip, crop, pare, prune, shave, trim, lay, press, spread, card, comb

Near Antonyms of Level

disequilibrate, coarsen, rumple, wrinkle, bend, kink, dent, pit, avert, curve, deflect, detour, divert, rechannel, shunt, sidetrack, build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rebuild, renew, renovate, restore, create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form

Word Forms of Level

Inflections: levels, leveled, levelled, leveling, levelling

Derived words: levelly (adverb), levelness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Level

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: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Level

Words & Phrases Containing Level

level best, level crossing, level off, level of significance, level up, level out, level-pegging

Frequently Asked Questions about Level

What does "Level" mean?

"Level" means 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. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: 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. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Level"?

Other words for "Level" include degree, echelon, footing, place, position, rank, ranking and reach(es). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Level" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Level"?

There are 220 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Level". Common alternatives include degree, echelon, footing, place, position, rank, ranking, reach(es), rung and situation.

What is the opposite of "Level"?

Antonyms of "Level" include rough, roughen, bumpy, coarse, lumpy, uneven, unsmoothed and agitated. Near antonyms include disequilibrate, coarsen, rumple and wrinkle.

How do you use "Level" in a sentence?

Examples of "Level" in a sentence: "a young karate student ready to rise to the next level in his chosen art of self-defense"; "we'll give both teams the same equipment so as to level the playing field"; "the construction workers leveled the ground before laying a foundation for the new house".

Is "Level" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Level" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Level" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Level" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Level"?

"Level" is pronounced /ˈle-vəl/ and divided into syllables as lev·el.