# level off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/level-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to stop increasing or decreasing and stay at a steady level. You use this when talking about things like prices, speed, or a plane's height.

For teachers: to reach a stable state or constant level after a period of fluctuation, increase, or decrease. In this sense, the verb is typically intransitive.

## Examples

- The price of gas is finally starting to level off.
- After the initial excitement and rapid growth of the new app, the number of daily users began to level off.
- Market analysts observed that while the tech sector saw unprecedented gains in the spring, valuations began to level off as interest rates rose.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The plane leveled off of at 10,000 meters." but "The plane leveled off at 10,000 meters." — Learners sometimes add 'of' after 'off' by mistake; the particle 'off' should be followed directly by a preposition like 'at'.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in business, economics, and aviation to describe a trend becoming stable.
- Teaching tip: Use visual aids like line graphs to show a steep line turning horizontal to illustrate the meaning clearly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.