echelons

noun

plural of echelon
as in levels
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of echelons That period also provided the foundations for where City currently sits within the top echelons of world soccer – having won the UEFA Champions League back in 2023 and winning four consecutive Premier Leagues from 2021 to 2024. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 After folding into Kawasaki, Bimota has returned to the upper echelons of motorsport as well, taking over the factory WorldSBK team in 2025. — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026 The materials and craftsmanship are consistent with a garment that belonged to the highest echelons of Elizabeth’s English court. — Filippo Iarocci, Vanity Fair, 19 Sep. 2026 The pattern has been skewed by higher incomes collected by those in the higher echelons of wage workers, like corporate chief executives, entertainers and professional athletes. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 From students like York all the way to the upper echelons of the Republican Party, Kirk's death was seen as a call to action. — Elena Moore, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026 The fact that many of the newest hybrids coming to market reach the upper echelons of luxury and performance indicates that such customers are ready to spend big on these dual-advantage beasts. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026 Some of them have brought conspiracy theories into the highest echelons of government. — Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026 Is there a category that is above top secret that even those in the highest echelons don’t know about it? — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for echelons
  1. levels
  2. ranks
  3. positions
  4. places
  5. rankings
Noun
  • Beijing envisions a comprehensive AI education system that spans all levels of schooling and extends to the broader public.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • This reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and turned soil into the first terrestrial carbon sinks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of levels
Noun
  • Beating Alabama would vault them up even higher in the ranks and silence some of the naysayers.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Argentina, a Group of 20 nation of 46 million people home to a vast Patagonian wilderness and culturally vibrant capital, is set to become the first South American country to join their ranks.
    — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ranks
Noun
  • Specifically at Mercy Medical Center, the statement said, there are twice as many open full-time positions for the 16 full-time RNs being impacted, and that across Prime’s Illinois hospitals, there are 331 openings, including 11 in obstetrics.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • There could be intense competition for backup minutes with logjams at multiple positions.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of positions
Noun
  • Polymarket is one of the places—perhaps the only one—that question is being answered in practice.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Food, in many places all over the world, is the language of love, and what better way to experience travel than through local ingredients and dishes?
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of places
Noun
  • Texas dominated many national rankings in the report as well, with the ZIP code encompassing the Dallas suburb of Crandall ranking second on the list and a more urban Dallas ZIP code ranking 10th.
    — Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Definition of rankings

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echelon
echelons
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Cite this Entry

“Echelons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/echelons. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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