plateau

noun pla·teau \ pla-ˈtō , ˈpla-ˌtō \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Definition of plateau

plural plateaus also plateaux play \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

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Examples of plateau in a Sentence

a plateau covering hundreds of miles
The price of gas seems to have reached a plateau.

Recent Examples of plateau from the Web

After 80, the death rates actually begin to decelerate — and after 105, the death rates plateau, according to the Science study.

— meghana keshavan, STAT, "The age plateau: New study suggests, at certain age, risk of death no longer increases," 28 June 2018
That tied Chris Coghlan for the third-fewest games needed to reach the plateau by a Marlins rookie.

— craig davis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Marlins' J.T. Realmuto is being overlooked in All-Star voting despite strong start," 13 June 2018
In fact, Albert Pujols is the fourth player in as many years and the ninth since 2000 to reach the 3,000-hit plateau.

— jeff miller, latimes.com, "Shohei Ohtani to start for Angels in Sunday finale at Seattle," 6 May 2018
Others credit the Bedouin tribes on Saudi Arabia’s Nejd plateau as the nucleus of breeders from which the horses arose.

— peter gwin, WSJ, "The Horses That Changed History," 19 June 2018
In the middle of the season, Bobby Axelrod (Damien Lewis) and Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) solved a problem that would have resulted in mutual destruction, and landed on a plateau of agreement.

— refinery29.com, "Billions Season 3 Finale Recap: "The Death Zone"," 11 June 2018
Separately, the Trump administration is also facing calls in Congress for the U.S. to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the strategic plateau that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war.

— CBS News, "Trump mulls changes to Jerusalem consulate responsible for Palestinian relations," 1 June 2018
Separately, the Trump administration is also facing calls in Congress for the U.S. to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the strategic plateau that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war.

— Washington Post, "After embassy move, Trump weighs Jerusalem consulate changes," 1 June 2018
At a certain point, however, recovery will begin to plateau.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "Could this drug help the brain recover after a stroke?," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plateau.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of plateau

French, from Middle French, platter, from plat flat

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First Known Use: 1743

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

plateau Synonyms

Synonyms

mesa, table, tableland;

Related Words

butte, dome, height, highland, upland;

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

plateau

verb

Definition of plateau

intransitive verb

: to reach a level, period, or condition of stability or maximum attainment

See plateau defined for English-language learners

Examples of plateau in a Sentence

Sales of computers have plateaued in recent years.

Recent Examples of plateau from the Web

That scenario is seldom realistic with such complex injuries and recoveries, however, and Nelson had plateaued in his long-toss program off flat ground at 150 feet in recent weeks.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers' Jimmy Nelson to visit surgeon after reaching 'plateau' in recovery with shoulder," 16 May 2018
Subscription growth once again came largely from international territories, including Latin America and Europe, as domestic subscriptions showed signs of plateauing.

— david ng, latimes.com, "Netflix shares soar in after-hours trading on robust quarterly earnings," 16 Apr. 2018
But data from the last three decades suggest that heights have plateaued among high-income countries in North America and Europe.

— amanda onion, Newsweek, "Humans Have Reached the Peak of Our Height, Lifespan and Physical Fitness," 8 Dec. 2017
The practice plateaued until 1998 then declined rapidly, with no cases reported in 2001.

— Washington Post, "UK panel finds lives shortened by hospital’s opioid use," 20 June 2018
As the road begins to plateau and bend to the left, find a wide dirt trail on the right.

— charles fleming, latimes.com, "A true L.A. workout: Hiking Griffith Park," 8 June 2018
Her competitive performance, meanwhile, began to plateau, with her best times stubbornly refusing to drop.

— gretchen reynolds, New York Times, "Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Olympian?," 28 Feb. 2018
At the end of last year, profits were already extremely high by historical standards, even though they’d plateaued for a few years.

— shawn tully, Fortune, "Tax Reform Is Lifting Profits, but Beware Wall Street's Blue Sky Forecasts," 7 June 2018
The disease will then plateau for several years, leaving her in a vegetative state and unable to communicate.

— vibhav rangarajan, STAT, "The ‘cruel joke’ of compassionate use and right to try: Pharma companies don’t have to comply," 5 June 2018

First Known Use of plateau

1939

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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PLATEAU Defined for English Language Learners

plateau

noun

Definition of plateau for English Language Learners

: a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it
: a period when something does not increase or advance any further