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Meaning & use

novice level

noun, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈnɒv.ɪs ˌlev.əl/
US/ˈnɑː.vɪs ˌlev.əl/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    The stage or standard of someone who has only just begun learning an activity.

    Grammar: Often follows at: at novice level, not 'in novice level'.

    Patterns

    • at novice level
    • a novice-level something

    She started the guitar course at novice level and moved up within a year.

    The ski school offers lessons at novice level for anyone who has never tried.

    At novice level, the chess puzzles have only one or two moves.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Designed for beginners, with easy tasks or rules.

    Grammar: Hyphenated before a noun: a novice-level class.

    Patterns

    • a novice-level class

    We joined a novice-level yoga class on Tuesday evenings.

    The game has a novice-level mode with extra hints.

    He entered a novice-level race to gain experience.

Word forms

pluralnovice levels

Common combinations

at novice level
The tournament has divisions from novice level to expert.
novice-level course
I signed up for a novice-level cooking course.
move up from novice level
After three months, she moved up from novice level.
novice-level skills
Basic cooking requires only novice-level skills.
remain at novice level
Without practice, you will remain at novice level.

Synonyms and how they differ

beginner level
Beginner level is the everyday, most common expression, while novice level can sound a bit more formal.
entry level
Entry level is used for jobs and products, while novice level is for skill in activities.
elementary level
Elementary level is used in language classes, and implies a stage slightly above total beginner.

Opposites

expert leveladvanced level

Word family

novice noun
a person new to an activity
novitiate noun
a period of training, especially in religious life
level noun
a stage or standard of ability
novice adjective
new to something, as in a novice driver

Commonly confused: novice level or intermediate level?

novice level vs intermediate level

Intermediate level is the stage after novice, when the basics are known and some skill has developed.

Practice

A person who has never skied should sign up for lessons at ___.

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