octane

noun

oc·​tane ˈäk-ˌtān 

1

: any of several isomeric liquid alkanes C₈H₁₈

2

: octane number

Examples of octane in a Sentence

an octane rating of 90

Recent Examples on the Web

As political fix-it man, Fox burns some comic octane, his sense of timing and talent for the right gesture put to good use here. — Miles Beller, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

There’s nothing low-octane about Libertyville senior Jacob Syc. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Swift is on a high-octane offense (6th in NFL last year), ran for nine TDs, and had 34 receptions. — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

To boost octane ratings across the HyperFuel lineup, researchers lowered the amounts of lower-octane ingredients (GFT and LSRN) and added more high-octane ones (MED and reformate). — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026

However, if your car has a high-performance engine and requires a higher fuel tier, using a lower octane than recommended can reduce performance and cause engine damage over time, according to Kelly Blue Book. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Other epic water rides include the Cheetah Chase and Wildebeest, but there are also plenty of low-octane attractions like wave pools, a lazy river, and splash and play areas for kids. — Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026

Madonna accentuated her features with her signature full-octane glamour. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 July 2026

South Korean director Na Hong-jin wowed audiences in Cannes with hi-octane sci-fi thriller Hope in which a remote community, situated on the edge of Korean Demilitarized Zone, is terrorized by the arrival of aliens. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing octane

• high-octane
• octane number

Rhymes for octane

• isooctane

Kids Definition

octane

noun

oc·​tane ˈäk-ˌtān 

1

: any of several liquid chemical compounds containing 8 carbon atoms and 18 hydrogen atoms

2

: a number that is used to measure the antiknock characteristics of gasoline with a higher number indicating a smaller chance of knocking