level off — stabilise (figurative, especially after change)
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to stop rising or falling and become steady, especially after a period of change or fluctuation.
Say it like a native
Textbook After rising sharply, prices subsequently stabilised at a constant rate.
Native Prices shot up and then levelled off.
'Level off' is the natural verb for figures steadying after change. The formal version is wordy.
Pattern: level off (after/at something)
In use
- After months of rapid growth, house prices finally levelled off.work
- If the unemployment rate continues to level off, it could indicate that the economy is stabilising after a period of uncertainty.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Sales levelled off after rising, then stayed flat constant.
✓ Sales levelled off after rising.
'Level off' already means flatten/steady — don't pile on 'stayed flat constant'.
Common collocations
level off— prices, sales, the rate, demand
Don't confuse it
At B1/B2, learners may know 'level' as a noun (e.g. water level) or 'level something off' literally (make something flat). This sense is figurative and describes a process becoming stable after change.