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Grammar fix

level off

stabilise (figurative, especially after change)

to stop rising or falling and become steady, especially after a period of change or fluctuation.

phrasal verbC1occasional

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • 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

Fix the pattern

Pattern: level off (after/at something)

WrongSales levelled off after rising, then stayed flat constant.

RightSales levelled off after rising.

'Level off' already means flatten/steady — don't pile on 'stayed flat constant'.

Patternlevel off (after/at something)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff After rising sharply, prices subsequently stabilised at a constant rate.

Natural Prices shot up and then levelled off.

'Level off' is the natural verb for figures steadying after change. The formal version is wordy.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • level off
    pricessalesthe ratedemand

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.

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