1
: made with maximum effort : thoroughgoing
an all-out effort to win the contest
: with full determination or enthusiasm : with maximum effort
—used chiefly in the phrase go all out
Synonyms
Adjective
- absolute
- arrant
- blank
- blooming [chiefly British]
- bodacious [Southern & Midland]
- categorical
- categoric
- clean
- complete
- consummate
- crashing
- damn
- damned
- dead
- deadly
- definite
- downright
- dreadful
- fair
- flat
- flat-out
- out-and-out
- outright
- perfect
- plumb
- profound
- pure
- rank
- regular
- sheer
- simple
- stark
- stone
- straight-out
- thorough
- thoroughgoing
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
Adverb
Examples of all-out in a Sentence
Adjective
Grandpa got the all-out support of the family when he decided to remarry at age 72
an all-out effort to break open the door
Adverb
went all out for her New Year's Eve party—she even had fireworks!
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
In the first six months of his presidency, more than 7,000 people were killed by police or unnamed attackers during his administration's all-out war on drugs; the true cost of disinformation can be measured in lives lost.
—Joan Donovan, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2024
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2024
Much like people, websites come with baggage—and the urge to throw it all out and start over can be overwhelming.
—Josh Koenig, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for all-out 
Adjective
Even games that go all-out for graphics in other ways often fall short of effective hair styles which either remains plastered to a characters’ head or moves in really basic ways.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
In the first six months of his presidency, more than 7,000 people were killed by police or unnamed attackers during his administration's all-out war on drugs; the true cost of disinformation can be measured in lives lost.
—Joan Donovan, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2024
Adverb
Rounding it all out is the 582-square-foot guest cabin, which sits amid the treetops and features a bedroom, a full bath, a kitchenette, a loft, a sauna, and its own deck.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2024
Much like people, websites come with baggage—and the urge to throw it all out and start over can be overwhelming.
—Josh Koenig, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for all-out
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'all-out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near all-out
Cite this Entry
“All-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-out. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.
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