level

level

verb

Definition of LEVEL

1

to make equal in amount, degree, or status <we'll give both teams the same equipment so as to level the playing field>

Synonyms balance, equate, even, level

Related Words equilibrate, equipoise; accommodate, adjust, compensate, fit; counterbalance; homogenize, normalize, regularize, standardize; democratize

Near Antonyms disequilibrate

2

to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps <the construction workers leveled the ground before laying a foundation for the new house>

Synonyms flatten, level, plane, smooth, smoothen

Related Words clip, crop, pare, prune, shave, trim; lay, press, spread; card, comb, rake; surface

Near Antonyms coarsen, rumple, wrinkle; bend, kink; dent, pit

Antonyms rough, roughen

3

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <the marksman leveled his gun at the target and fired>

Synonyms bend, cast, direct, head, hold, level, pinpoint, set, train

Related Words sight; bear, face; concentrate, focus; incline, orient, steer

Near Antonyms avert, curve, deflect, detour, divert, rechannel, shunt, sidetrack

4

to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <the boxer leveled his badly outclassed opponent with a single blow>

Synonyms bowl (down or over), down, drop, floor, knock down, knock over, level, mow (down), prostrate

Related Words 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 architectural gem that was leveled to build a parking lot>

Synonyms level, pull down, raze, tear down, unbuild

Related Words 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 Antonyms build, construct, erect, put up, raise; rebuild, renew, renovate, restore; create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, make, manufacture, shape