Reaching a Plateau Means the Climb Has Stopped
A plateau is an area of high level ground. In learning and progress it means a stage where improvement flattens out.
A plateau is a raised area of level land. The figurative use is one of the most useful metaphors English has borrowed from geography: to reach a plateau is to stop improving without going backwards, which is exactly what a learning curve does after early rapid gains.
- An area of high level ground. *The Tibetan Plateau.*
- A period of no change after growth. *Sales reached a plateau.*
- To level off. *Progress plateaued in March.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | plateau | A high plateau. |
| Plural | plateaus / plateaux | Successive plateaus. |
| Verb | plateau | Growth plateaued. |
| Related | tableland | An arid tableland. |
| Related | mesa | A flat-topped mesa. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The road climbs onto the plateau.Geography.
- Her recovery plateaued after two months.Medical progress.
- Prices have plateaued.Economics.
Flat high ground by name
- Plateau — a large area of raised level land
- Tableland — the plain English equivalent
- Mesa — a smaller flat-topped hill with steep sides
- Butte — a narrower version of a mesa
- Escarpment — the steep edge where a plateau ends
From French *plateau*, a tray or flat surface, from Old French *plat*, flat — the same root as *plate*, *plateau* and *platform*.
Plateaus or plateaux?
Both are used. Plateaus is more common in general English; plateaux keeps the French plural.
What is a learning plateau?
A stage where practice produces no visible improvement. It usually reflects consolidation rather than a real stop.