plateau

1 of 2

noun

pla·​teau pla-ˈtō 

ˈpla-ˌtō

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

plateau

2 of 2

verb

plateaued; plateauing; plateaus

intransitive verb

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

Synonyms

Noun

• mesa
• highland
• tableland
• altiplano
• dome

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

Noun

The tide had gone out, and she was stood on the edge of a large plateau of rock covered in seaweed—a desolate black field. —James Rebanks june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025

As subscriber levels plateau, especially in North America, Netflix has been turning to advertising as a key new revenue source. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 June 2025

Verb

Without the drive to continuously learn and improve, talented individuals may plateau or fail to reach their full potential. —Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

Stripe didn't plateau or miss its window. —Dan Primack, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Middle French, platter, from plat flat

First Known Use

Noun

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1939, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for plateau

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

plateau

noun

pla·​teau

pla-ˈtō,

ˈpla-ˌtō

plural plateaus or plateaux

-ˈtōz,

-ˌtōz

1

: a broad flat area of high land

2

: a stable level, period, or condition

Etymology

Noun

from French plateau "flat land raised above the surrounding land," from early French plateau "platter, plate"

Medical Definition

plateau

noun

pla·​teau pla-ˈtō, ˈpla-ˌ 

plural plateaus also plateaux

-ˈtōz, -ˌtōz

: a relatively flat elevated area see tibial plateau