Prepositions after adjectives

Level with, in, of, on or at?

Level is most commonly followed by with when it means honest with someone or equal to something. Other prepositions usually belong to a separate phrase about place, measurement, or position.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with level?

Use level with for honesty or equality: She was level with me; The prices are level with last year’s. Use at to talk about height or amount, as in at eye level. In and on are usually part of another phrase, not selected by level itself. Level of is a noun phrase, not an adjective pattern.

Please be level with me about the budget.
The new salary is level with the industry average.
The shelf is at waist level.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
level with + person

Being honest with someone

Level with means open and truthful with another person.

I need you to be level with us.
She was finally level with her parents.
2
level with + thing

Being equal to something

Level with can describe equal height, amount, or standard.

Inflation is now level with last year's rate.
The water came level with the bridge.
3
at + level

Talking about measurement or position

At is used before level in phrases about height, degree, or amount.

The camera was positioned at eye level
Sales remained at the same level all year.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
level with
Be level with me about the problem.
honest with someone; also equal to something
level at
Temperatures stayed at a high level.
at introduces a measurement phrase, not a fixed adjective pattern
level in
The room is level in the centre.
in usually introduces place, not a standard combination after level
level on
The painting hangs level on the wall.
on introduces location; level on is not a common adjective pattern
level of
a high level of detail
common noun phrase with level as a noun, not an adjective

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using level of as an adjective pattern

Level of is normally a noun structure.

✕ The two teams are level of skill. ✓ The two teams are level in skill.

Confusing level with and honest to

The standard expression for honesty is level with someone.

✕ Be level to me. ✓ Be level with me.

Using on after level for equality

Use with to show equality.

✕ The scores are level on points. ✓ The scores are level with each other on points.

Mixing adjective and noun uses

At level is uncommon without a noun after level.

✕ The table is at level. ✓ The table is level.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Please be ___ me about what happened.
2. The camera was placed ___ eye level.
3. The river rose level ___ the road.

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Frequently asked questions

Does level with always mean honest?

No. It can also mean equal in height, amount, or standard.

Is level of correct?

Yes, but usually with level as a noun: a high level of stress.

Can I say level on?

Only when on introduces another idea such as location: level on the wall. It is not a common adjective-preposition combination.

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