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
Adverb
went all out for her New Year's Eve party—she even had fireworks!
Recent Examples on the Web
Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023
But after several grueling years on the road, there came a time at the tail end of 2021 when Godwin says found himself in an all-out funk.
—Tricia Despres, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2023
Perhaps, though, with his empire shrinking, that contest will no longer be an all-out war.
—WIRED, 21 Sep. 2023
Canada’s prime minister leveled the charge Monday, and an all-out diplomatic war soon followed.
—Mujib Mashal, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023
Rather than an all-out strike of its 146,000 members, the union opted to initially target the three factories, a plan that could make the union's $825 million strike fund last longer.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2023
Canada’s prime minister leveled the charge on Monday, and an all-out diplomatic war soon followed.
—Suhasini Raj, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
Energy security is crucial to Taiwan’s survival, and even more so in the event of a military blockade or an all-out war, as Taiwan is an island.
—Hou Yu-Ih, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2023
Rather than launching an all-out strike of its 146,000 members, the union opted to target three factories a plan that could make the union’s $825 million strike fund last longer.
—David Koenig, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2023
Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 25 Sep. 2023
Baby boomers were the generation that made rock a zillion-dollar industry; Gen X saved it from that industry with punk and indie, and millennials closed it all out playing Guitar Hero.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
And really, the Lions have time to sort it all out.
—Shane Hoffmann | , oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023
Season two of Invasion picks up just months later with the aliens escalating their attacks in an all out war against the humans.
—Josie Howell | Jhowell@al.com, al, 22 Aug. 2023
The commissioners were all out of the office this week and were not available to comment in time for publication.
—Lacey Latch, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
Rounding it all out are the lushly landscaped grounds, which are laced with mature oak trees, rose bushes and fruit trees, and host plenty of spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2023
Pour the tahini on top, making sure to scrape it all out of the container, and add the salt and cumin.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
Alas, the laboratories were all out of our rodent allies.
—Sam Needleman, The New York Review of Books, 2 Sep. 2023
See More
Adjective
As the parade wound through Haryana on July 31, Muslim gangs showered stones on Hindu gangs armed with swords, sparking an all-out riot.
—Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023
But after several grueling years on the road, there came a time at the tail end of 2021 when Godwin says found himself in an all-out funk.
—Tricia Despres, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2023
Perhaps, though, with his empire shrinking, that contest will no longer be an all-out war.
—WIRED, 21 Sep. 2023
Canada’s prime minister leveled the charge Monday, and an all-out diplomatic war soon followed.
—Mujib Mashal, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023
Rather than an all-out strike of its 146,000 members, the union opted to initially target the three factories, a plan that could make the union's $825 million strike fund last longer.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2023
Canada’s prime minister leveled the charge on Monday, and an all-out diplomatic war soon followed.
—Suhasini Raj, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
Energy security is crucial to Taiwan’s survival, and even more so in the event of a military blockade or an all-out war, as Taiwan is an island.
—Hou Yu-Ih, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2023
Rather than launching an all-out strike of its 146,000 members, the union opted to target three factories a plan that could make the union’s $825 million strike fund last longer.
—David Koenig, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2023
Adverb
The fine point on this retractable pencil creates thin, hair-like strokes while the spoolie on the other end blends it all out.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 25 Sep. 2023
Baby boomers were the generation that made rock a zillion-dollar industry; Gen X saved it from that industry with punk and indie, and millennials closed it all out playing Guitar Hero.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
And really, the Lions have time to sort it all out.
—Shane Hoffmann | , oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023
Season two of Invasion picks up just months later with the aliens escalating their attacks in an all out war against the humans.
—Josie Howell | Jhowell@al.com, al, 22 Aug. 2023
The commissioners were all out of the office this week and were not available to comment in time for publication.
—Lacey Latch, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
Rounding it all out are the lushly landscaped grounds, which are laced with mature oak trees, rose bushes and fruit trees, and host plenty of spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2023
Pour the tahini on top, making sure to scrape it all out of the container, and add the salt and cumin.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
Alas, the laboratories were all out of our rodent allies.
—Sam Needleman, The New York Review of Books, 2 Sep. 2023
See More
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.
Word History
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 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
all-out
1 of 2 adjectiveˈȯ-ˈlau̇t
: made with maximum effort : extreme
an all-out attempt to finish on time
all out
2 of 2 adverb
: with maximum effort
went all out to win
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