on a varsity level

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on a varsity level" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe participation or competition in sports or activities at the highest level of a school or college team. Example: "She plays soccer on a varsity level, showcasing her skills against the best teams in the league."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But it's something you're not used to on a varsity level".

The New York Times

He crab walks on a varsity level.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

TEAL is a blended approach of lecture and hands-on activities, says Belcher, who admits implementing TEAL was a varsity-level move.

Science Magazine

David Tolleson, executive director of the National Down Syndrome Congress, said there was no reason that a high-functioning boy with Down Syndrome like Brad couldn't play an aerobic sport like basketball, but that to his knowledge no one had done it on a varsity high school level.

The New York Times

I didn't get to run on the varsity level until college.

The New York Times

"When you were an eighth grader, it was just astonishing that you were playing on the varsity level.

The New Yorker

In his fourth season coaching at East Side, second on the varsity level, Dudley lists 36 players on his roster, 23 of them cradling a stick for the first time.

The New York Times - Sports

Gymnastics has seen a drop at the varsity level from over 200 programs before 1973 to only 19 in the 2010 season.

The New York Times

Ninth and tenth graders who are good enough to compete at the varsity level of a sport may be bused to the senior high school to compete in varsity sports, therefore becoming part of the senior high's talent pool.

Wikipedia

"We have a lot of girls who haven't played before," said Toolin, a former high school star at Irvington who went on to play the sport at the varsity level in college.

The New York Times

Davis, who wasn't a full-time starting quarterback at the varsity level until his senior year, was confident he could play at the next level.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing athletic achievements, ensure that using "on a varsity level" accurately reflects participation at the highest team level within a school or college. If the context is broader, consider alternatives like "at a collegiate level".

Common error

Avoid using "on a varsity level" to describe skills or achievements outside of the context of school or college sports teams. This phrase is specific to that environment and may not translate well to other high-achievement contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a varsity level" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to specify the standard or tier at which an action is performed, typically in the context of sports. As Ludwig confirms, it's a usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on a varsity level" correctly describes participation or competition in sports at the highest level within a school or college setting. Ludwig confirms its usability in English. While grammatically sound, its usage is relatively rare, primarily found in News & Media and Wiki sources. To expand vocabulary, alternatives like "at the varsity level" or "at a collegiate level" can be considered. When writing, make sure that the context aligns with school or college athletics; otherwise, different descriptors may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the varsity level

Changes the preposition from "on" to "at" without significantly altering the meaning.

on a varsity team

Focuses on team membership rather than skill level.

at a collegiate level

Replaces "varsity" with "collegiate" broadening the context to college sports.

at a high school level

Specifies the educational level as high school.

at an elite level of play

Emphasizes the high skill level involved, rather than the specific team context.

in a top-tier team

Highlights membership in a team considered to be of high quality.

at the highest level of competition

Shifts focus to the intensity of the competition.

in a competitive varsity program

Emphasizes the competitive nature of the program.

playing varsity sports

Focuses on the act of playing varsity sports, rather than the level itself.

competing at the varsity standard

Highlights that someone is competing at the level which varsity generally requires.

FAQs

How can I use "on a varsity level" in a sentence?

You can use "on a varsity level" to describe someone's participation in a school's highest sports team, for example: "She plays soccer "on a varsity level", showcasing her skills against the best teams in the league."

What's the difference between "on a varsity level" and "on a junior varsity level"?

"On a varsity level" refers to the highest level of play in a school's sports program, while "on a junior varsity level" indicates participation in a team for developing players, typically one level below varsity.

What can I say instead of "on a varsity level" if I'm talking about college sports?

If referring to college sports, consider using the phrase "at a collegiate level" instead of "on a varsity level", as "varsity" is more commonly associated with high school sports.

Is it correct to use "on a varsity level" to describe academic achievements?

While technically grammatically correct, using "on a varsity level" to describe academic achievements is uncommon. It's better to use phrases like "at a high level" or "at an advanced level" for academic contexts.