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
plateaued; plateauing; plateaus
: to reach a level, period, or condition of stability or maximum attainment
Synonyms
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
Jackie Wattles, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Hard-liners in the Israeli government have pushed to limit the number, age and gender of Palestinians allowed on the plateau, prompting warnings from both sides that restrictions could lead to violence.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
The modern Turkish state ended up relocating to Anatolia in the east, constituting itself across the vastness of the Asia Minor plateau, including in traditionally Kurdish areas and those recently depopulated of Armenians in eastern Anatolia.
—Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
That conflict didn't resolve for a good 50 years, but Kyburg Castle endured, and by the 13th century, the counts of Kyburg (descendants of the Dillingen family) were among the most powerful noble families in the Swiss plateau.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Jan. 2024
Hikers will reach a plateau a little after the 2-mile mark.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
After reaching a plateau, however, enrollment started declining as the state began losing population, thanks largely to movements to other states, and as the state’s birthrate dropped dramatically.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
The one quote aside, Lowe doesn’t become the sort of obliviously verbose bad guy that viewers have come to expect from the wave of tech bubble scam documentaries that perhaps started with Alex Gibney’s Enron doc, but began to peak and plateau with the Fyre Festival double dose in 2019.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
Mix up your routine One of the most common reasons for hitting a plateau is sticking with the same workout for too long.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Rising grain and corn costs eliminate some of the hope that inflation could plateau in the second half of the year.
—Patrick Thomas and Alistair MacDonald, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2022
Love said health experts are hopeful that cases will plateau or drop off in two to three weeks.
—Tom Steele, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2021
Modeling indicates that the area’s outbreak could plateau toward the end of the month and start to abate sometime in February, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily coronavirus briefing.
—Lauren Caruba, ExpressNews.com, 11 Jan. 2021
But experts fear that without coordinated and sustained efforts, the country will plateau at this high level of cases.
—Andrew Joseph, STAT, 4 Sep. 2020
Unemployment claims filed with the Texas Workforce Commission have plateaued since peaking in April.
—Dallas News, 5 June 2020
Both rates have decreased since the survey began and started to plateau in recent weeks.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 1 June 2020
Despite Tuesday's grim numbers, Beshear and health commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said the rate of new virus cases continues to plateau.
—Jonathan Bullington, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2020
Noun
Volcanoes of all shapes and sizes riddle the surface of the broader region, including the Tharsis plateau to the west of Noctis Labyrinthus.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Hard-liners in the Israeli government have pushed to limit the number, age and gender of Palestinians allowed on the plateau, prompting warnings from both sides that restrictions could lead to violence.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
The modern Turkish state ended up relocating to Anatolia in the east, constituting itself across the vastness of the Asia Minor plateau, including in traditionally Kurdish areas and those recently depopulated of Armenians in eastern Anatolia.
—Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
That conflict didn't resolve for a good 50 years, but Kyburg Castle endured, and by the 13th century, the counts of Kyburg (descendants of the Dillingen family) were among the most powerful noble families in the Swiss plateau.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Jan. 2024
Hikers will reach a plateau a little after the 2-mile mark.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
After reaching a plateau, however, enrollment started declining as the state began losing population, thanks largely to movements to other states, and as the state’s birthrate dropped dramatically.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
The one quote aside, Lowe doesn’t become the sort of obliviously verbose bad guy that viewers have come to expect from the wave of tech bubble scam documentaries that perhaps started with Alex Gibney’s Enron doc, but began to peak and plateau with the Fyre Festival double dose in 2019.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
Mix up your routine One of the most common reasons for hitting a plateau is sticking with the same workout for too long.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
Alternatively, flu cases could plateau for a while.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Rising grain and corn costs eliminate some of the hope that inflation could plateau in the second half of the year.
—Patrick Thomas and Alistair MacDonald, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2022
Love said health experts are hopeful that cases will plateau or drop off in two to three weeks.
—Tom Steele, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2021
Modeling indicates that the area’s outbreak could plateau toward the end of the month and start to abate sometime in February, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily coronavirus briefing.
—Lauren Caruba, ExpressNews.com, 11 Jan. 2021
But experts fear that without coordinated and sustained efforts, the country will plateau at this high level of cases.
—Andrew Joseph, STAT, 4 Sep. 2020
Unemployment claims filed with the Texas Workforce Commission have plateaued since peaking in April.
—Dallas News, 5 June 2020
Both rates have decreased since the survey began and started to plateau in recent weeks.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 1 June 2020
Despite Tuesday's grim numbers, Beshear and health commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said the rate of new virus cases continues to plateau.
—Jonathan Bullington, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plateau.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near plateau
Cite this Entry
“Plateau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plateau. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on plateau
Nglish: Translation of plateau for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of plateau for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plateau
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