plural plateaus also plateaux
pla-ˈtōz 
ˈpla-ˌtōz
1
a
: a usually extensive land area having a relatively level surface raised sharply above adjacent land on at least one side : tableland
b
: a similar undersea feature
2
a
: a region of little or no change in a graphic representation
b
: a relatively stable level, period, or condition
3
: a level of attainment or achievement
the 500-point plateau
plateaued; plateauing; plateaus
: to reach a level, period, or condition of stability or maximum attainment
Synonyms
Examples of plateau in a Sentence
Noun
a plateau covering hundreds of miles
The price of gas seems to have reached a plateau.
Verb
Sales of computers have plateaued in recent years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
After Israel began its occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, the country agreed to continue an arrangement aimed at maintaining religious balance: Jews would pray at the Western Wall and Muslims would pray at the Al-Aqsa plateau.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
As those numbers start to plateau, a curious intersection remains.
—Lisa Vernon Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2024
In contrast to happiness, Kahneman and Deaton found that life satisfaction increased steadily with income with no plateau.
—John Jennings, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
Volcanoes of all shapes and sizes riddle the surface of the broader region, including the Tharsis plateau to the west of Noctis Labyrinthus.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Hard-liners in the Israeli government have pushed to limit the number, age and gender of Palestinians allowed on the plateau, prompting warnings from both sides that restrictions could lead to violence.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
The modern Turkish state ended up relocating to Anatolia in the east, constituting itself across the vastness of the Asia Minor plateau, including in traditionally Kurdish areas and those recently depopulated of Armenians in eastern Anatolia.
—Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
That conflict didn't resolve for a good 50 years, but Kyburg Castle endured, and by the 13th century, the counts of Kyburg (descendants of the Dillingen family) were among the most powerful noble families in the Swiss plateau.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Jan. 2024
Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Rising grain and corn costs eliminate some of the hope that inflation could plateau in the second half of the year.
—Patrick Thomas and Alistair MacDonald, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2022
Love said health experts are hopeful that cases will plateau or drop off in two to three weeks.
—Tom Steele, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2021
Modeling indicates that the area’s outbreak could plateau toward the end of the month and start to abate sometime in February, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily coronavirus briefing.
—Lauren Caruba, ExpressNews.com, 11 Jan. 2021
But experts fear that without coordinated and sustained efforts, the country will plateau at this high level of cases.
—Andrew Joseph, STAT, 4 Sep. 2020
Unemployment claims filed with the Texas Workforce Commission have plateaued since peaking in April.
—Dallas News, 5 June 2020
Both rates have decreased since the survey began and started to plateau in recent weeks.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 1 June 2020
Despite Tuesday's grim numbers, Beshear and health commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said the rate of new virus cases continues to plateau.
—Jonathan Bullington, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2020
Noun
Perched on a mountain plateau, Bogotá is one of the highest capitals in the world at more than 2,600 meters (8,500 feet) above sea level.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
After Israel began its occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, the country agreed to continue an arrangement aimed at maintaining religious balance: Jews would pray at the Western Wall and Muslims would pray at the Al-Aqsa plateau.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
As those numbers start to plateau, a curious intersection remains.
—Lisa Vernon Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2024
In contrast to happiness, Kahneman and Deaton found that life satisfaction increased steadily with income with no plateau.
—John Jennings, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
Volcanoes of all shapes and sizes riddle the surface of the broader region, including the Tharsis plateau to the west of Noctis Labyrinthus.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Hard-liners in the Israeli government have pushed to limit the number, age and gender of Palestinians allowed on the plateau, prompting warnings from both sides that restrictions could lead to violence.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
The modern Turkish state ended up relocating to Anatolia in the east, constituting itself across the vastness of the Asia Minor plateau, including in traditionally Kurdish areas and those recently depopulated of Armenians in eastern Anatolia.
—Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
That conflict didn't resolve for a good 50 years, but Kyburg Castle endured, and by the 13th century, the counts of Kyburg (descendants of the Dillingen family) were among the most powerful noble families in the Swiss plateau.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Jan. 2024
Verb
Alternatively, flu cases could plateau for a while.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Rising grain and corn costs eliminate some of the hope that inflation could plateau in the second half of the year.
—Patrick Thomas and Alistair MacDonald, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2022
Love said health experts are hopeful that cases will plateau or drop off in two to three weeks.
—Tom Steele, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2021
Modeling indicates that the area’s outbreak could plateau toward the end of the month and start to abate sometime in February, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily coronavirus briefing.
—Lauren Caruba, ExpressNews.com, 11 Jan. 2021
But experts fear that without coordinated and sustained efforts, the country will plateau at this high level of cases.
—Andrew Joseph, STAT, 4 Sep. 2020
Unemployment claims filed with the Texas Workforce Commission have plateaued since peaking in April.
—Dallas News, 5 June 2020
Both rates have decreased since the survey began and started to plateau in recent weeks.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 1 June 2020
Despite Tuesday's grim numbers, Beshear and health commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said the rate of new virus cases continues to plateau.
—Jonathan Bullington, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plateau.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near plateau
Cite this Entry
“Plateau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plateau. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
plateau
noun
pla·teau
pla-ˈtō, ˈpla-ˌ
plural plateaus also plateaux
-ˈtōz, -ˌtōz
: a relatively flat elevated area see tibial plateau
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