plural plateaus also plateaux
pla-ˈtōz 
ˈpla-ˌtōz
1
a
: a usually extensive land area having a relatively level surface raised sharply above adjacent land on at least one side : tableland
b
: a similar undersea feature
2
a
: a region of little or no change in a graphic representation
b
: a relatively stable level, period, or condition
3
: a level of attainment or achievement
the 500-point plateau
plateaued; plateauing; plateaus
: to reach a level, period, or condition of stability or maximum attainment
Examples of plateau in a Sentence
Noun
a plateau covering hundreds of miles
The price of gas seems to have reached a plateau.
Verb
Sales of computers have plateaued in recent years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Yergin, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
At this point of the season, Week 7, there were about 500 deaths last season, and 600 the year before, but in both of those seasons the deaths had already started to plateau by mid-February.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2025
Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Rising grain and corn costs eliminate some of the hope that inflation could plateau in the second half of the year.
—Patrick Thomas and Alistair MacDonald, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for plateau
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Noun
Although global oil demand seems slated to plateau in the early 2030s, natural gas consumption is expected to continue to increase well into the 2040s.
—Daniel Yergin, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
At this point of the season, Week 7, there were about 500 deaths last season, and 600 the year before, but in both of those seasons the deaths had already started to plateau by mid-February.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
Alternatively, flu cases could plateau for a while.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Rising grain and corn costs eliminate some of the hope that inflation could plateau in the second half of the year.
—Patrick Thomas and Alistair MacDonald, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for plateau
Cite this Entry
“Plateau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plateau. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
plateau
noun
pla·teau
pla-ˈtō, ˈpla-ˌ
plural plateaus also plateaux
-ˈtōz, -ˌtōz
: a relatively flat elevated area see tibial plateau
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