blood level: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal / Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “blood level” mean?
The concentration or amount of a substance (such as glucose, alcohol, medication, hormones, or toxins) present in the blood, typically measured in medical or scientific contexts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The concentration or amount of a substance (such as glucose, alcohol, medication, hormones, or toxins) present in the blood, typically measured in medical or scientific contexts.
A measurement or indicator of something's presence or intensity within a system, often used metaphorically to suggest degree or saturation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related terms (e.g., 'analyse' vs. 'analyze') may follow regional conventions in surrounding text. The term itself is identical.
Connotations
Identical clinical/scientific connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Equally common in medical and scientific literature in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “blood level” in a Sentence
The blood level of [SUBSTANCE] is [ADJECTIVE].[SUBSTANCE] blood levels [VERB].to measure/monitor [POSSESSIVE] blood level.a [ADJECTIVE] blood level of [SUBSTANCE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blood level” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lab will blood-level the sample for traces of the toxin. (Highly technical/rare)
American English
- Researchers need to blood-level the participants after each dose. (Highly technical/rare)
adverb
British English
- The drug was administered blood-level carefully. (Extremely rare/unnatural)
American English
- The substance was measured blood-level precisely. (Extremely rare/unnatural)
adjective
British English
- The blood-level analysis revealed a deficiency.
- We require a blood-level monitor for the trial.
American English
- The blood-level data was inconclusive.
- A blood-level test is scheduled for tomorrow.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in pharmaceutical or biotech reports (e.g., 'The drug achieves a therapeutic blood level within two hours').
Academic
Common in medical, biological, pharmacological, and toxicology research papers.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used only when discussing specific medical test results (e.g., 'My cholesterol blood level is too high').
Technical
Primary domain. Standard term in clinical medicine, laboratory science, and pharmacology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blood level”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blood level”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blood level”
- Using 'blood level' without specifying the substance (e.g., 'His blood level is high' is vague).
- Confusing 'blood level' with 'blood count' (which refers to numbers of blood cells).
- Using it in non-biological contexts where it sounds jarringly medical.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'blood test' is the procedure to take a blood sample. A 'blood level' is a specific measurement or result obtained from that test.
Not in standard usage. It is a technical term for measurable biological substances. Using it metaphorically (e.g., 'his anger blood level') is highly non-standard and stylistically marked.
It depends. Use the singular when referring to the concept or a specific measurement for one substance (e.g., 'blood level of iron'). Use the plural when referring to measurements of multiple substances or repeated measurements (e.g., 'check your blood levels', 'cholesterol and triglyceride blood levels').
In casual conversation about health, people often just name the substance and say 'in my/your blood' or 'count'. For example, instead of 'my glucose blood level', one might say 'my blood sugar' or 'how much sugar is in my blood'.
Blood level is usually formal / technical / medical in register.
Blood level: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd ˌlɛv(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd ˌlɛvəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LEVEL in a video game or a fuel gauge. Your BLOOD LEVEL is like a gauge showing how much of something (sugar, drug, alcohol) is in your blood's 'tank'.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOOD IS A CONTAINER / LEVELS ARE QUANTITIES. The blood is conceptualized as a container holding measurable amounts of substances.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'blood level' most appropriately used?