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 of plateau

Noun

• mesa
• highland
• tableland
• altiplano

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

Connor has sailed past 30 goals for the eighth time in his career and is two goals away from reaching the 40-goal plateau for the second time. —Murat Ates, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Sensor tech is on a plateau and has been for years, so the X-T30 III is at parity with other recent APS-C cameras, including the Z50II and EOS R10. —Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026

Verb

As Inside Higher Ed notes, graduates with adaptable skills often continue to grow while others plateau. —Rasheem Rooke, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026

But the second, which Guillemet favors, is that the technology advancements from AI hyperscalers will plateau and that competition will shift toward optimizing the cost of delivering software. —John Kell, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026

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

1935, 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