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
Relevance
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
His passing, while not expected to immediately alter the balance of power—given his retirement from the Supreme People’s Assembly in 2019—underscores a generational shift in North Korea’s upper echelons.
—
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Grey typically isn’t a colour associated with fun, but the background, lettering, stripe down the middle and sleeve design, have defied logic to propel the Raiders into the higher echelons of these rankings.
—Ajay Rose, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Few things are more luxurious than a cashmere sweater, but the luscious fabric isn’t reserved solely for the upper echelons of society.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2025
That’s essentially what happened in the American Revolution, most of the founding fathers were of the wealthiest echelons of the colonies.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
His death has reverberated across the Republican Party — from the grassroots through the upper echelons of the White House.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 21 Sep. 2025
Her site, which grew out of a blog about motherhood and home décor, had become perhaps the most popular chronicler of Kennedy’s rise, offering half a million Substack followers an inside look at the Secretary’s new life in the upper echelons of the American right.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Enninful announced his departure from the upper echelons of Vogue the summer prior to his final issue.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
These behemoths are primarily technology firms, which dominate the upper echelons of the index due to their growth in areas like AI, cloud computing, and digital services.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Grey typically isn’t a colour associated with fun, but the background, lettering, stripe down the middle and sleeve design, have defied logic to propel the Raiders into the higher echelons of these rankings.
—Ajay Rose, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Few things are more luxurious than a cashmere sweater, but the luscious fabric isn’t reserved solely for the upper echelons of society.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2025
That’s essentially what happened in the American Revolution, most of the founding fathers were of the wealthiest echelons of the colonies.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
His death has reverberated across the Republican Party — from the grassroots through the upper echelons of the White House.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 21 Sep. 2025
Her site, which grew out of a blog about motherhood and home décor, had become perhaps the most popular chronicler of Kennedy’s rise, offering half a million Substack followers an inside look at the Secretary’s new life in the upper echelons of the American right.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Enninful announced his departure from the upper echelons of Vogue the summer prior to his final issue.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
These behemoths are primarily technology firms, which dominate the upper echelons of the index due to their growth in areas like AI, cloud computing, and digital services.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for echelons
Noun
-
From the ways in which games are developed to hacks for completing levels, Tan said the technology's ramifications across the sector can't be overstated.—
Lucy Handley,
CNBC,
1 Nov. 2025
-
As lawmakers and top officials at the federal and state levels attempt to shift blame, the shutdown is poised to upend social services across the country.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
She was assigned to the EVOLVE brand before she was let go in October as part of a revamp of the company's developmental ranks.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The move also helps Netflix compete with YouTube, which has risen in ranks as the most popular platform for podcasts.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
About 400 staff positions across the KC-area Head Start sites are also at risk if the sites close permanently, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said earlier this month.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Smith said that the county, which has gone through years of budget tightening, is not OK with paying its workers below median rates, but has had to be selective in which positions to fund more comparably to similar counties.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Her poetry and prose have appeared in such places as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, American Poetry Review, and the Los Angeles Review of Books.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
He was surrounded by a ground crew that included Farzam, who slipped out of a bodysuit and switched places with the stuntman.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Echelons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/echelons. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share