as in levels
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
jobs in the upper echelons of the company pay quite well indeed
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Recent Examples of echelons
Such an agreement would require battling — and even dismantling — an entrenched and incompetent bureaucracy to speed up economic reforms, and getting rid of old-school historic commanders and everyone else in the government, the Communist Party and the top military echelons standing in the way.
—
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
From the upper echelons of global logistics to the cutting edge of industrial energy, this week’s business landscape is defined by transition and rapid scaling.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
That consciousness even reached the upper echelons of medicine.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, more households are climbing into the echelons of the upper middle class due to income gains in recent decades, according to research from the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Since the war began, monitors estimate that up to a third of strikes have targeted the top echelons and major bases of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its Basij volunteers tasked with enforcing loyalty to Iran’s theocratic rulers.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
The Israeli government announced its forces killed Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, in strikes on March 17, eliminating one of the country's most powerful political figures who once pushed for a nuclear peace deal and spent decades in the upper echelons of the Islamic Republic.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
But, with Xi Jinping’s endorsement of the classics, Liu’s Straussian ideas have percolated into the upper echelons of the Party.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
From the upper echelons of global logistics to the cutting edge of industrial energy, this week’s business landscape is defined by transition and rapid scaling.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
That consciousness even reached the upper echelons of medicine.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, more households are climbing into the echelons of the upper middle class due to income gains in recent decades, according to research from the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Since the war began, monitors estimate that up to a third of strikes have targeted the top echelons and major bases of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its Basij volunteers tasked with enforcing loyalty to Iran’s theocratic rulers.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
The Israeli government announced its forces killed Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, in strikes on March 17, eliminating one of the country's most powerful political figures who once pushed for a nuclear peace deal and spent decades in the upper echelons of the Islamic Republic.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
But, with Xi Jinping’s endorsement of the classics, Liu’s Straussian ideas have percolated into the upper echelons of the Party.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for echelons
Noun
-
In a study published in Cell in September 2025, researchers mapped the brain circuits that release growth hormone during sleep in real time, not just by measuring blood levels after the fact.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, public universities, local governments and regional organizations like the Mekong River Commission have mainly focused on monitoring levels of heavy metals and educating communities about risks.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The split decision came after tense deliberations, with jurors initially sent back after one member broke ranks during polling, forcing further discussion before a final verdict was reached.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The effect of computers on the top ranks of the game has been different but no less profound.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Spitzer held positions at Miramax, The Weinstein Company and A+E, before moving into management, where shen spent over a decade at 3 Arts Entertainment representing actors, producers and filmmakers, while also developing film and TV projects.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
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Already in charge of the military’s moneymaking enterprises and married into the Castro family, López-Calleja became a member of the National Assembly in 2021, a prerequisite to higher government positions on the island, including the presidency.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Wolves, who immediately finished in the Europa League places in 2019 after a six-season spell away from the top flight, offer a more realistic target.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Not in the offseason, when their coaching staffs and front offices regularly trade places.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Texas dominated many national rankings in the report as well, with the ZIP code encompassing the Dallas suburb of Crandall ranking second on the list and a more urban Dallas ZIP code ranking 10th.—
Faith Bugenhagen,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Echelons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/echelons. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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