Phrasal verb
level out
Definition
phrasal verb. to become even or balanced after being uneven; often used for surfaces or situations that were previously sloped or unbalanced.
phrasal verb. to become even or flat; typically intransitive, though it can take an object in some contexts (e.g., 'level out the surface'). The phrase is commonly used in both physical and abstract contexts.
Examples
“The road levels out after the hill.”
“After the initial drop, the roller coaster levels out before the next loop.”
“The company's profits finally leveled out after a period of fluctuation.”
Examples
simple
“The road levels out after the hill.”
contextual
“After the initial drop, the roller coaster levels out before the next loop.”
complex
“The company's profits finally leveled out after a period of fluctuation.”
Usage
typically intransitive, though it can take an object in some contexts (e.g., 'level out the surface').
Teaching tip
contrast with 'even out' (a near-synonym but slightly more common in American English) and 'stabilize' (more formal).
Pitfall
The surface leveled up.
The surface leveled out.
'level up' means to increase or improve, while 'level out' means to become even or flat — a common confusion for learners.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
level + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/level-out