plateaued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plateaued" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where progress has reached a stable level and is no longer increasing or decreasing. Example: "After months of rapid growth, our sales have plateaued, indicating a need for new strategies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While the numbers of cases dropped dramatically in December and early January, they have now plateaued and there are fears that the disease may not be totally eradicated.

The Guardian

To suggest that he would not have been aware that his team had plateaued is to do him an injustice but he might have expected a deal more from experienced cricketers.

The Guardian - Sport

Other scientists questioned whether it was possible to model the progression of a fast-moving epidemic in the way the Yale authors have and Neil Ferguson, professor of mathematical biology at Imperial College London, said the number of new cases had already plateaued in the area.

The Guardian

China's appetite for coal has plateaued, the coal price has sagged and Minemex, the firm that operates the mine, has given workers longer lunch breaks, without pay.

The Economist

Broadband penetration may have plateaued, at nearly two-thirds of households.

The Economist

That is right; with the exception of about two years during the height of the housing boom, when it plateaued, the dollar sank steadily.

The Economist

But polls suggest that Josefina Vázquez Mota, the PAN's leader in the Chamber of Deputies, is emerging as a possible technicolour candidate.Ms Vázquez has almost doubled her support among PAN sympathisers since January (although a poll this month suggests it has now plateaued).

The Economist

Despite a methodology change in 2011 to include mobile-phone only households (to capture poorer and younger populations), these self-reported figures show obesity rates may have plateaued.

The Economist

The most obvious reason is that, despite a marked warming over the course of the 20th century, temperatures have not really risen over the past ten years.It is not clear why climate change has "plateaued" (see article).

The Economist

But China plateaued, Europe languished and Japan swooned (chart 1).In response the Federal Reserve called off "quantitative easing", but the Bank of Japan expanded it.

The Economist

In contrast, orange production has plateaued, due in part to a decline of orange juice consumption in America around 40% less over the past 15 years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plateaued" to describe trends or data that have reached a stable level after a period of growth or decline. For example, "The company's sales growth plateaued in the second quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "plateaued" to describe something that has always been stable; it should only be used when something has reached a stable point after a change. Don't say: "The water level has always plateaued." Instead, say: "The water level rose quickly and then plateaued."

Linguistic Context

The word "plateaued" primarily functions as a verb in the past tense. Ludwig confirms its correct usage to describe the cessation of progress after a period of increase or activity, as seen in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "plateaued" is a versatile verb used to describe a situation where progress, growth, or activity has reached a stable level after a period of change. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, the word is grammatically sound and widely used. It commonly appears in news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific publications with a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse contexts. When using "plateaued", ensure the subject experienced prior change before stabilizing. Alternatives include "leveled off" or "stabilized". The presence of numerous examples across various authoritative sources confirms that "plateaued" is a common and accepted term for describing trends that have reached a steady state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leveled off

Indicates the cessation of rising or falling to remain constant. It focuses more on the change in direction before reaching a steady state.

stabilized

Emphasizes the state of becoming stable or unchanging, often after a period of fluctuation.

reached a standstill

Highlights the complete cessation of movement or progress, suggesting a more abrupt halt than "plateaued".

remained constant

Focuses on the unchanging nature of something over a period, lacking the implication of prior change found in "plateaued".

flatlined

Implies a sudden and often negative halt in progress, typically used in medical or business contexts.

become stagnant

Suggests a lack of growth or development, often with negative connotations of inactivity or decay.

ceased to increase

Specifically indicates that a rise has stopped, without necessarily implying a stable period.

topped out

Indicates reaching the highest point or level, implying a limit has been reached.

met a ceiling

Suggests an imposed or natural limit preventing further progress.

reached saturation

Indicates that a market or system has reached its maximum capacity and cannot absorb any more.

FAQs

How can I use "plateaued" in a sentence?

The word "plateaued" is used to describe a situation where growth or progress has slowed or stopped after a period of increase. For example: "After a period of rapid expansion, the company's growth "plateaued"."

What's an alternative to the word "plateaued"?

Alternatives include "leveled off", "stabilized", or "remained constant". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the number plateaued at"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. For example, "The number of subscribers "plateaued" at 10,000."

What does it mean when someone says progress has "plateaued"?

It means that after a period of improvement, progress has slowed significantly or stopped altogether, reaching a stable level. This doesn't necessarily imply failure, but indicates a need to re-evaluate strategies.