adj
Common
horizontal
ho-rih-ZON-tuhl
Horizontal (adj) means Level and flat; parallel to the ground rather than upright. Example: “Draw a horizontal line across the page, then add a vertical one.”
adj
1
Level and flat; parallel to the ground rather than upright.
"Draw a horizontal line across the page, then add a vertical one."
"Lay the shelf horizontal before drilling the holes."
"The table has a perfectly horizontal surface."
noun
1
A horizontal line, surface, or position.
"Keep the plank on the horizontal while your friend checks it with a level."
"The roof beam sat a few degrees off the horizontal."
"The bar chart plots time along the horizontal."
How to use horizontal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLying flat or level, as opposed to vertical (upright).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
horizontal line
horizontal position
horizontal axis
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Word forms
- Plural
- horizontals
- Comparative
- more horizontal
- Superlative
- most horizontal
Fill the gap
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Draw a _____ line across the page, then add a vertical one.
Etymology
From French horizontal, from horizon (see "horizon").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for horizontal
See all rhymes for horizontal →Frequently asked questions
What does “horizontal” mean?
The word “horizontal” means level and flat; parallel to the ground rather than upright. In plain terms, lying flat or level, as opposed to vertical (upright).
How do you pronounce “horizontal”?
“Horizontal” is pronounced ho-rih-ZON-tuhl (/ˌhoɹəˈzɑn.təl/ in IPA).
How do you use “horizontal” in a sentence?
Here is “horizontal” used in a sentence: “Lay the shelf horizontal before drilling the holes.”
What is the opposite of “horizontal”?
The opposite of “horizontal” — its antonyms — is vertical.
What part of speech is “horizontal”?
Depending on how it is used, “horizontal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “horizontal” come from?
The word “horizontal” comes from French. From French horizontal, from horizon (see "horizon").
Is “horizontal” a common word?
“Horizontal” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “horizontal” have?
“Horizontal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: level and flat; parallel to the ground rather than upright.
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical?
Horizontal describes something level and flat, running parallel to the ground or the horizon, such as a tabletop or a shelf. Vertical describes something upright, running straight up and down at a right angle to the ground, such as a wall or a flagpole.
How can you remember whether horizontal or vertical means flat?
Horizontal shares its root with "horizon," the flat line where land or sea meets the sky, so horizontal always means level and side-to-side. Vertical, by contrast, points straight up and down like a standing person.
What are common collocations with horizontal?
Horizontal frequently pairs with words such as line, surface, plane, axis, position, and stripes. In business, a "horizontal" merger or market describes companies operating at the same level of an industry rather than in a supplier-to-customer relationship.
When is horizontal used figuratively?
Beyond describing physical flatness, horizontal is used in organisations and design to mean spread across one level rather than ranked in a hierarchy. A "horizontal structure," for example, has few layers of management.
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