max out

verb

maxed out; maxing out; maxes out

intransitive verb

: to reach an upper limit or a peak
the car maxed out at 85 mph

transitive verb

: to push to a limit or an extreme
also : to use up all available credit on
maxed out the credit cards

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Jones declined to max out Deandre Ayton, preferring instead to see what the free agent market would bring and then matching it. Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 9 Nov. 2022 Another way to lower AGI is to max out workplace dependent-care benefits and commuter benefits, says Mr. Luscombe. Ashlea Ebeling, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 True endgame builds are not based on grinding, but paying, thousands, tens of thousands even potentially a hundred thousand dollars, to max out. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 7 June 2022 There are three additional settings, which tended to max out the speed at about 25, 30, and 35 km/hr, as well as assist-free pedaling. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 June 2022 The working theory as to why some units are crooked is that when users opt to max out their machines, the Apple technicians don’t always reassemble the stand as accurately as it’s done when the machine comes off the production line. Yoni Heisler, BGR, 16 June 2021 With that money she’s been able to pay off her student loans, max out her retirement Roth IRA account for this year and start a downpayment of her first home. Time, 21 Jan. 2023 However, don’t max out at the expense of establishing optimal time under tension. Jeff Tomko, Men's Health, 12 Dec. 2022 By contrast, leaching didn't max out until 130 hours after extraction started, and its maximum efficiency was only 60 percent. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 3 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'max out.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of max out was in 1967

Dictionary Entries Near max out

Cite this Entry

“Max out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/max%20out. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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


A Good Old-Fashioned Quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY