Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

high-octane

adjective high-oc·tane \ ˈhī-ˈäk-ˌtān \

Definition of high-octane

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

See high-octane defined for English-language learners

See high-octane defined for kids

First Known Use of high-octane

1931

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

HIGH-OCTANE Defined for English Language Learners

high-octane

adjective

Definition of high-octane for English Language Learners

  • of engine fuel : of a good quality that allows an engine to run efficiently

  • : very powerful, strong, or effective

Learn More about high-octane

  1. See words that rhyme with high-octane

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up high-octane? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

halcyon

play

peaceful, happy, or prosperous

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  2. uphold 'to let stand'

  3. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  4. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  5. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

high-octane

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games