high-octane

adjective

high-oc·​tane ˈhī-ˈäk-ˌtān How to pronounce high-octane (audio)
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 But Sandy now has a high-octane legal team in her corner. Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2023 The high-octane deliveries of twin sisters and frontwomen Mana and Kana emphasize the music’s sly feminism: beneath all the pastel glitter and kawaii lies a punk-rock criticism of Japan’s patriarchal society and standards for female beauty. Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2023 Those 19 high-octane photons most likely came from a growing black hole that existed fewer than half a billion years after the Big Bang, making it by far the most distant x-ray source ever detected. WIRED, 5 Nov. 2023 Andy Cohen put himself in the hot seat for a high-octane start to BravoCon 2023. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 3 Nov. 2023 In recent weeks, Kendall Jenner has been elevating her winter style game by showcasing an array of high-octane boots, all while eschewing trousers altogether, as a leader of the pantless trend. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2023 Knight was known for his high-octane personality on and off the court, and would frequently shout at referees, other players and engage in visible outbursts during games. Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2023 By the early ’90s, fashion started worshiping new kinds of models, like the fragile-looking Kate Moss, moving away from the high-octane glamour of the ’80s and toward a more unvarnished look. Eliza Brooke, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023 There’s something for everyone, from high-octane lifestyle soaps (The Real Housewives franchise) and experiential delicacies (Married at First Sight) to the culinary dark arts (Nailed It) and softcore exhibitionism (Physical 100). WIRED, 29 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'high-octane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-octane was in 1931

Dictionary Entries Near high-octane

Cite this Entry

“High-octane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-octane. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

high-octane

adjective
: having a high octane number and therefore good antiknock properties
high-octane gasoline

More from Merriam-Webster on high-octane

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