degree and level share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. degree means “a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality”. level means “a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality”. level is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/dɪˈɡɹi/
1.n.a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
“a moderate grade of intelligence”
2.n.a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
“a remarkable degree of frankness”
3.n.an award conferred by a college or university signifying that the recipient has satisfactorily completed a course of study
“he earned his degree at Princeton summa cum laude”
/ˈlɛvəl/
1.n.a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
“a moderate grade of intelligence”
2.n.a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
“lumber of the highest grade”
3.n.a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
“a remarkable degree of frankness”
| degree | level | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dɪˈɡɹi/ | /ˈlɛvəl/ |
| Said | di-GREE | LEV-uhl |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | noun | noun, verb, adjective |
| Senses | 7 | 19 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | grade, level | degree, grade |
Full entry for degree · Full entry for level · More comparisons