Level
/ˈlɛv.əl/
Last Updated: January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Definition of Level
noun
- A tool for finding whether a surface is level, or for creating a horizontal or vertical line of reference.
"Hand me the level so I can tell if this is correctly installed."
- A distance relative to a given reference elevation.
"By the end of the day, we'd dug down to the level of the old basement floor."
- Degree or amount.
"The sound level is much too high; this hurts my ears. We've reached a new level of success."
- Achievement or qualification.
"She achieved a high level of distinction."
- Distance from the root node of a tree structure.
verb
- To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.
"You can level the table by turning the pads that screw into the feet."
- To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.
"The hurricane leveled the forest."
- To progress to the next level.
"I levelled after defeating the dragon."
- To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).
"He levelled an accusation of fraud at the directors. The hunter levels the gun before taking a shot."
- To direct or impose (a penalty, fine, etc) at or upon (someone).
adjective
- The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
"This table isn't quite level; see how this marble rolls off it?"
- At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.
"We tried to hang the pictures so that the bottom of the frames were level with the dark line in the wallpaper."
- Unvaried in frequency.
"His pulse has been level for 12 hours."
- Unvaried in volume.
"His voice has been unchanged. It has been level for 12 hours."
- Calm.
"He kept a level gaze."