level noun
1 amount/size/number
ADJECTIVE
elevated , high , significant , substantial
record
Industrial output has reached record ~s.
increasing , rising
excessive
Excessive ~s of lead were found in the water.
low
decreased , reduced
decreasing , falling
moderate
varying
They work hard, but with varying ~s of success.
detectable , undetectable
generous ( esp. BrE )
a generous ~ of financial support for the arts
permitted , recommended , required
permitted ~s of chemical pollutants
acceptable , adequate , necessary , safe
an acceptable ~ of risk
normal
Her blood pressure has returned to its normal ~.
realistic , reasonable
dangerous , unacceptable
worst
the worst ~ of business failure since 1997
unprecedented
maximum , minimum
desired , optimal
baseline
noise , ozone , pollution , radiation
crime , poverty
funding , staffing
blood-sugar , cholesterol , hormone , etc.
confidence , energy , stress
VERB + LEVEL
achieve , attain , reach
They have achieved higher ~s of efficiency.
Crime has reached its highest ~ ever.
remain at
She predicts that fuel prices will remain at
current ~s.
boost , elevate , improve , increase , raise
maintain
bring down , decrease , keep down , lower ,
reduce
control , regulate
adjust , alter , change
set
Emissions are well below the ~s set by the WHO.
exceed
There will be stiff penalties if companies exceed
these ~s of pollution.
assess , determine , measure , record
check , monitor
LEVEL + VERB
go up , rise , soar
decrease , drop , fall , go down ,
plummet
change , differ , vary
exceed sth
PREPOSITION
above a/the ~
Mortgage rates were 10% above their
current ~.
at a/the ~
Rents will be kept at this ~ for another year.
below a/the ~
Radiation is well below the permitted ~.
~ of
They were asked to indicate the ~ of distress
they experienced as a result of their
experiences.
2 stage of progress/standard
ADJECTIVE
basic , elementary , low
The teaching is at quite a basic ~.
entry
They have a good range of entry-level computers for
beginners.
intermediate
advanced , high
Her illness has reached an advanced ~.
degree
3rd - grade , 11th - grade , etc. ( AmE )
grade ( AmE )
He's reading at grade ~ ( = at the average level for his grade )
.
difficulty
The difficulty ~ of the exercises in the book varies widely.
fitness
a sport suitable for people of all fitness ~s
educational
VERB + LEVEL
attain , reach
students who have reached the intermediate ~
complete , do , take
You need to do all three ~s to qualify as a chef.
PREPOSITION
above a/the ~
His English is way above the ~ of the other students.
at a/the ~
students at intermediate ~
She has played tennis at a high ~.
below a/the ~
The book is not suitable for students below degree ~.
~ of
language students at different ~s of proficiency
PHRASES
sb's comfort ~ (= the level at which someone feels safe and
comfortable)
take sb / sth to the next ~
It's time to take my career to the next ~.
3 grade in an organization or structure
ADJECTIVE
high , upper
the upper ~s of the civil service
low
senior
global , international , local , national , regional
grass-roots
The party needs to win support at grass-roots ~.
board
These decisions are made at board ~.
federal , ministerial ( BrE )
VERB + LEVEL
reach , rise to
He rose to the ~ of general manager.
PREPOSITION
at a/the ~
At the local ~ there's a lot to be said for the plan.
on a/the ~
The thing has to be organized on an international ~.
4 way of considering sth
ADJECTIVE
conscious , subconscious , unconscious
At a conscious ~, I was satisfied with my life.
deep
superficial
detailed
We probably need to look at this problem at a more detailed
~.
general
practical
theoretical
political
tactical
macro , micro
PREPOSITION
at a/the ~ , on a/the ~
On a superficial ~ everything appears to be in order, but at a
deeper ~ you an see that there's a lot wrong.
5 height
ADJECTIVE
high , low
ground , sea , water
the problem of rising sea ~s
eye , knee
a shelf at eye ~
VERB + LEVEL
adjust , change , lower , raise
They are going to raise the ~ of the banks to prevent flooding.
PREPOSITION
above a/the ~
200 m above sea ~
at a/the ~
The plane was flying at a very low ~.
below a/the ~
below the ~ of the clouds
on a ~ with
On the second floor you are on a ~ with the treetops.
to a/the ~
The water rose to the ~ of the ground floor windows.
PHRASES
a change in ~ , a change of ~
6 floor in a building
ADJECTIVE
ground , lower
higher , top , upper
PREPOSITION
on a/the ~
Are we on the right ~ for the restaurant?
to a/the ~
Take the elevator to Level Four.
© Oxford University Press, 2009
