high-octane

adjective

high-oc·​tane ˈhī-ˈäk-ˌtān 

1

: having a high octane number and hence good antiknock properties

high-octane gasoline

2

: very powerful, strong, or effective

high-octane football

high-octane coffee

Examples of high-octane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rest assured, though, that the focus will still be on the competition itself, which pairs high-octane physical stunts with nightmare-inducing challenges that touch on no shortage of fears, from bugs and reptiles to heights and claustrophobia. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026

But generally, fewer people are seeking out these whales, so fewer are being made, partly because people are not drinking as many high-octane, high alcohol beers. —Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026

The film marks a departure from traditional Bollywood Valentine’s Day fare by blending romance with high-octane danger. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026

The new season of Prime Video's high-octane thriller jumps eight years ahead of the explosive Season 1 finale with Pine running a quiet surveillance unit in London under the alias Alex Goodwin, a low-level MI6 officer. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for high-octane

• isooctane
• octane

Kids Definition

high-octane

adjective

: having a high octane number and therefore good antiknock properties

high-octane gasoline