sea level

noun

: the level of the surface of the sea especially at its mean position midway between mean high and low water compare ground level sense 1a

Examples of sea level in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
West Brom’s fortunes may ebb and flow but the highest ground in the EFL, at 542 feet above sea level, rarely fails to deliver. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 Broad Peak, which rises 8,051 meters (26,414 feet) above sea level in the Karakoram range, is the world’s 12th-highest mountain and lies near K2, the world’s second-highest peak. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 The report found that greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level and ocean heat content all reached their highest levels on record in 2025. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026 In the San Francisco Bay Area, where sea levels have risen over the last century, notable peaks have been observed during the El Niño seasons of 1982-83, 1997-98 and 2023-24, according to Merrifield. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sea level

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea level was in 1806

Rhymes for sea level

See All Rhymes for sea level

Browse Nearby Words

sea lettuce
sea level
seal fishery
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Cite this Entry

“Sea level.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20level. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sea level

noun
: the height of the surface of the sea midway between the average high and low tides

More from Merriam-Webster on sea level

Nglish: Translation of sea level for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sea level

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