(levels, levelling, levelled)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: in AM, use 'leveling', 'leveled'
1.
A level is a point on a scale, for example a scale of amount, quality, or difficulty.
If you don't know your cholesterol level, it's a good idea to have it checked...
We do have the lowest level of inflation for some years...
The exercises are marked according to their level of difficulty.
N-COUNT: with supp
2.
The level of a river, lake, or ocean or the level of liquid in a container is the height of its surface.
The water level of the Mississippi River is already 6.5 feet below normal...
The gauge relies upon a sensor in the tank to relay the fuel level.
N-SING: the N
3.
In cookery, a level spoonful of a substance such as flour or sugar is an amount that fills the spoon exactly, without going above the top edge.
Stir in 1 level teaspoon of yeast.
? heaped
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
If something is at a particular level, it is at that height.
Liz sank down until the water came up to her chin and the bubbles were at eye level.
N-SING: usu supp N
5.
If one thing is level with another thing, it is at the same height as it.
He leaned over the counter so his face was almost level with the boy's...
Amy knelt down so that their eyes were level.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n
6.
When something is level, it is completely flat with no part higher than any other.
The floor was level, but the ceiling sloped toward his head.
...a plateau of fairly level ground.
ADJ
7.
If you draw level with someone or something, you get closer to them until you are by their side. (mainly BRIT)
Just before we drew level with the gates, he slipped out of the jeep and disappeared into the crowd...
ADV: ADV after v
•
Level is also an adjective.
He waited until they were level with the door before he turned around sharply and punched Graham.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n
8.
If someone or something such as a violent storm levels a building or area of land, they destroy it completely or make it completely flat.
The storm was the most powerful to hit Hawaii this century. It leveled sugar plantations and destroyed homes.
VERB: V n
9.
If an accusation or criticism is levelled at someone, they are accused of doing wrong or they are criticized for something they have done.
Allegations of corruption were levelled at him and his family...
He leveled bitter criticism against the US.
VERB: be V-ed at/against n, V n at/against n, also V n
10.
If you level an object at someone or something, you lift it and point it in their direction.
He said thousands of Koreans still levelled guns at one another along the demilitarised zone between them.
VERB: V n at n, also V n
11.
If you level with someone, you tell them the truth and do not keep anything secret. (INFORMAL)
I'll level with you. I'm no great detective. I've no training or anything...
VERB: V with n
12.
13.
If you say that you will do your level best to do something, you are emphasizing that you will try as hard as you can to do it, even if the situation makes it very difficult.
The President told American troops that he would do his level best to bring them home soon.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR to-inf [emphasis]
14.