VO₂ max

noun

ˌvē-ō-ˈtü-ˈmaks 

: the maximum amount of oxygen the body can utilize during a specified period of usually intense exercise

Examples of VO₂ max in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Potential for Better Endurance Regularly running, biking, swimming, or doing any other sustained cardio exercise naturally improves your endurance and VO2 max (the measure of how efficiently your body utilizes oxygen). — Jenessa Connor, Health, 26 June 2026

VO2 max, a tool once reserved for elite athletes, is becoming more mainstream. — Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 26 June 2026

Brain health is now being treated less like a late-life concern and more like a performance metric alongside VO2 max, lean muscle mass, sleep efficiency, and metabolic health. — Melinda Fulmer, Robb Report, 11 June 2026

Endurance scores assess your overall stamina, wrist power, VO2 max, recovery, and—of course—sleep quality. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026

At that volume, higher-intensity training turns out to be more time-efficient for building VO2 max and mitochondrial capacity. — Allison Palmer updated June 4, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026

Worn on either the wrist, bicep or body, a Whoop band is effectively a 24/7 tracker that is designed to continually monitor a series of health metrics, including resting heart rate, heart rate variability and VO2 max. — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Zone 2 is widely framed as the aerobic base that makes a higher VO2 max possible. — Allison Palmer june 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

volume of O₂ maximum

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

VO₂ max

noun

ˌvē-ō-ˈtü-ˈmaks 

: the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during a specified period of usually intense exercise that depends on body weight and the strength of the lungs

called also maximal oxygen consumption, maximal oxygen uptake, max VO₂