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

One recent study found that Iran’s central plateau, where most of the country’s aquifers are located, is sinking by more than 35 centimeters each year. —Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2025

Tucked between the Huachuca Mountains and the Dragoon Mountains, the town sits on a wide plateau in the San Pedro River Valley at an elevation of 4,500 feet. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025

Verb

Nonetheless, the findings suggest that liraglutide may help patients who plateau or regain weight after bariatric surgery, reducing the need for risky further surgeries. —New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2025

Last year, the IEA projected oil demand would either plateau or decline in the 2020s across its scenarios. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 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

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