plateau 1 of 2

noun

pla-ˈtō How to pronounce plateau (audio)
Definition of plateaunext
as in mesa
a broad flat area of elevated land Native Americans have inhabited the plateau for centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

plateau

2 of 2

verb

as in to stabilize

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 plateau
Noun
Isaias continues to battle some storm-disrupting winds in the atmosphere and dry air that led to its brief strength plateau earlier this morning. — Kate S. Petersen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 The Ducks reach the 50-point plateau for a school record fifth straight time. — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
Over 17 seasons, top-end RB scoring has come from those backs selected in the first three rounds; then elite hit rates plateau considerably. — Ben Gretch, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Production is expected to plateau at about 230,000 barrels per day, with blended crude exports emerging from separate projects by CNOOC and TotalEnergies. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plateau
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plateau
  1. mesa
  2. stabilize
  3. highland
  4. tableland
  5. altiplano
Noun
  • The scenery today, red rocks and flat mesas, could pass for Utah and our hike feels like a geologic safari with Nouri pointing out rock formations that resemble elephants and camels.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There is camping in the large campground near the entrance, but the only way to stay on the mesa is the Far View Lodge, with hotel-style rooms and a full-service restaurant.
    — R. Scott Rappold, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of mesa
Verb
  • Conventional optical frequency comb systems can require multiple components to stabilize their signals.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Assuming interest rates of 4% to 5%, Swagel estimated that nominal GDP growth would have to reach 7%-8%, and real GDP growth would have to hit 5%-6% in order to stabilize the debt.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stabilize
Noun
  • After posting a picture on a random rock in the Turkish highlands on Instagram, Salah has transformed the spot into a tourist attraction, with droves of fans making the pilgrimage.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Several factors were in place to trigger the collapse of PLC forces on the Red Sea coast that are not in place for the southwest highlands.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of highland
Noun
  • Only a depression in the ground remains at the Ingalls Dugout Site, but eagle-eyed visitors can still spot the spring, tablelands, thickets of plum trees, and other landmarksr described in the book of the same name.
    — Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026
  • Pedro Cervantes painted jewellike vistas of New Mexico’s tablelands.
    — John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of tableland
Noun
  • Built in the late 19 th century to transport the altiplano’s abundant metals and minerals, the railway line once ran from Bolivia’s de facto capital La Paz to the Pacific port of Antofagasta in Chile.
    — The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Tiwanaku communities first emerged in an altiplano, or high plain, of the Andes called the Titicaca Basin, named after Lake Titicaca.
    — Gina Park, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
Definition of altiplano

Browse Nearby Words

plate
plateau
plateaued
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plateau.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plateau. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on plateau

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plateau

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All