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

Examples of max out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, its interest rates are significantly higher than traditional lenders’ rates and repayment options max out at 18 months. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 This year’s installment features the same number of athletic footwear brands as NBA 2K26, with 17 different sportswear brands represented, but maxes out on models with hundreds of different shoes to choose from. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026 The switch to battery power has conceded some towing capacity as well, as the EV version maxes out at pulling 5,500 pounds, rather than the roughly 7,700 pounds of the six- or eight-cylinder models. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 2 Sep. 2026 After a family medical emergency forced her to max out her credit cards, Reed turned to BNPL loans from a number of companies like Klarna in order to pay for things like electrical bills and auto insurance. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for max out

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

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Cite this Entry

“Max out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/max%20out. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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