as in level
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
jobs in the upper echelons of the company pay quite well indeed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of echelon
Ralph led the Commodores to the upper echelon of women’s hoops this season, going 27-3 overall and 13-3 in conference play during the regular season, setting a school record for the most conference wins.
—
Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The show follows Wiig’s wannabe patrician Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, who is hell-bent on becoming the belle of 1960’s Palm Beach by elbowing her way into the upper echelons of Florida’s most exclusive beach club, the Palm Royale.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
In the finale, the method to her upper-echelon bootstrap-yanking is revealed to be procuring young women to fraternize (and more) with a rotating roster of nefarious dinner-party guests—oh, and seemingly also recording these illicit interactions.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 2 Mar. 2026
Kansas Jayhawks guard Jamari McDowell has turned in some of his most impressive, clutch performances this season against the upper echelon of the Big 12 Conference.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for echelon
Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The show follows Wiig’s wannabe patrician Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, who is hell-bent on becoming the belle of 1960’s Palm Beach by elbowing her way into the upper echelons of Florida’s most exclusive beach club, the Palm Royale.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
In the finale, the method to her upper-echelon bootstrap-yanking is revealed to be procuring young women to fraternize (and more) with a rotating roster of nefarious dinner-party guests—oh, and seemingly also recording these illicit interactions.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 2 Mar. 2026
Kansas Jayhawks guard Jamari McDowell has turned in some of his most impressive, clutch performances this season against the upper echelon of the Big 12 Conference.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for echelon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for echelon
Noun
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But change at a deeper level takes time and resources that the government may not always have.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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The denial, if not overturned at the county level, means the school will have to shut down at the end of the school year.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each writer’s personal ranking will appear in parentheses next to their name.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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In banked slalom, athletes get two individual runs down the course with their best time counting toward the final ranking.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The appointment represented a closing of ranks among Iran’s leadership even as the war on the Islamic Republic continues into its second week.—
Ramin Mostaghim,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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And when the British army brought their trench coats to the continent, they were kitted out in military features like shoulder epaulettes for indicating rank insignia and metal D-rings that could hold maps, swords (and supposedly) grenades.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Of course, characters will be put into embarrassing positions, or embarrass themselves, embarrassment being the root of all comedy, or near enough.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Realigning the bones virtually in their correct anatomical positions revealed the upper part of the face for the first time, including the orbital region where Little Foot’s eyes would have been.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Set the scene Located within a two-hectare coconut grove on almost 400 feet of pristine white sand in southern Tulum, this is a place to take a step back from the rest of the world and catch your breath.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
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Avoid highway gas stations, which often cost more Stations near major highways or commuter routes tend to have higher prices than stations that are located in other places.—
Keith Laing,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Echelon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/echelon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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