plateau
High, fairly flat area of land
A big, high area of land that is mostly flat on top.
a [adjective] plateau near [a place]
- The town sits on a wide plateau above the river.
- After climbing for three hours, they reached a grassy plateau with a beautiful view.
- Much of central Spain is a high plateau surrounded by mountains.
- The Tibetan Plateau is often called the "roof of the world."
- Small farms were scattered across the rocky plateau.
- We walked across a large plateau.
- The city is on a high plateau.
- From the plateau, we could see the sea far away.
- There are many sheep on the flat plateau.
- They built a road across the plateau.
Stage when progress stops changing
A time when something that was growing or changing stops and stays at the same level.
a plateau in [something]
- Her French improved quickly at first, but then she hit a plateau.
- After several years of rapid growth, the company entered a plateau in sales.
- My weight loss has reached a plateau, even though I’m still exercising.
- Economic growth is expected to rise and then settle into a long plateau.
- The team’s performance climbed for three seasons and then hit a frustrating plateau.
- I worked hard, but my progress reached a plateau.
- Our sales rose fast, then they hit a plateau.
- His English was better every month, but now it is on a plateau.
- The app’s user numbers are at a plateau this year.
- My fitness is on a plateau; I am not getting stronger.
Stop rising and stay the same
To stop going up or getting better and stay at about the same level.
[something] plateaus at [a level]
- After months of rapid weight loss, her results plateaued.
- Housing prices have plateaued at a very high level.
- The company’s growth plateaued last year after an early boom.
- My running speed has plateaued, even though I train every day.
- Researchers found that the benefits plateaued after about eight weeks of treatment.
- My English has plateaued this year.
- The number of users plateaued at one million.
- Sales grew fast, then they plateaued.
- His progress plateaued after three months of practice.
- The temperature plateaued at 30 degrees.
Flat section of a curve or graph
On a chart or line graph, a part where the line is almost flat and the value does not change much.
a plateau on/in [a graph/curve]
- The graph shows a clear plateau between 40 and 60 minutes, where the heart rate stays constant.
- After a sharp increase, the dose-response curve reaches a plateau.
- Blood levels of the drug rise quickly and then form a plateau at steady state.
- The learning curve includes an early plateau before performance improves again.
- At higher voltages, the current enters a plateau and no longer increases.
- On this graph, there is a plateau in the middle.
- The line goes up, then there is a flat plateau, then it goes up again.
- The result curve has a long plateau at the top.
- We can see a plateau where the speed stays the same.
- The temperature line shows a short plateau at 50°C.
- Base: plateau
- Plural: plateaus, plateaux
- Base: plateau
- 3rd Person Singular: plateaus
- Present Participle: plateauing
- Past: plateaued
hit a plateau
1Suddenly enter a no-progress stage
To suddenly come to a time when you stop improving or changing and stay at the same level.
- I’ve hit a plateau at the gym and I’m not getting any stronger.
- The project hit a plateau, and the team felt frustrated by the lack of progress.
- Our subscriber numbers have hit a plateau this quarter.
plateau phase
1Stage when a measured value is constant
A time in an experiment, process, or graph when the measured value stays almost the same and does not go up or down much.
- During the plateau phase of the reaction, the concentration remains stable.
- After the initial rise, the heart rate enters a plateau phase.
- The results show a long plateau phase before the next increase.
reach a plateau
1Arrive at a stage with no progress
To come to a time when something that was growing or improving stops changing and stays at the same level.
- My language learning has reached a plateau, so I need to change my study methods.
- Sales have reached a plateau after three years of strong growth.
- Her recovery reached a plateau, and the doctors adjusted her treatment.