optimal

adjective op·ti·mal \ ˈäp-tə-məl \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Examples: optimal in a Sentence

Definition of optimal

: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum

the optimal use of class time

the optimal dosage of medication for a patient

conditions for optimal development

—

optimality

play \ˌäp-tə-ˈma-lə-tē\ noun

—

optimally

play \ˈäp-tə-mə-lē\ adverb

See optimal defined for English-language learners

See optimal defined for kids

Examples of optimal in a Sentence

He keeps his engine tuned for optimal performance.
Under optimal conditions, these plants grow quite tall.

Recent Examples of optimal from the Web

This is optimal because log2(1/2) is -1, so A should have a 1-bit representation, log2(1/4) is -2, so B should have a 2-bit representation, and log2(1/8)=-3, so C and D should have 3-bit representations.

— timothy b. lee, Ars Technica, "Inventor says Google is patenting work he put in the public domain," 10 June 2018
Any time of year is optimal to visit Delta Diner, just north of the wilderness on County Highway H in Delta.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Cable is one of Wisconsin's best trail towns," 7 June 2018
There is no strict consensus in the medical community regarding how much protein is optimal for good health, though research is ongoing.

— fiza pirani, ajc, "Is too much protein dangerous? High-protein diets may increase heart failure risk by nearly 50 percent, study suggests," 30 May 2018
Who cares that the fare card’s debut was four years late or that the accompanying website was a clunker (and remains less than optimal)?

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "There's no getting around the clumsy design of SEPTA's new fare gates," 9 May 2018
Astigmatism is an eye condition that can cause less-than-optimal vision, according to the AOA.

— korin miller, SELF, "6 Weird Reasons Your Vision Is Blurry," 4 May 2018
The result is called a T-score, and that value is compared with the average bone mass of a 30-year-old adult (when bone mass is optimal).

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Osteoporosis is not a normal part of aging," 22 May 2018
But at that point, will AI be able to explain, in a way that humans can understand, why its actions are optimal?

— henry a. kissinger, The Atlantic, "How the Enlightenment Ends," 15 May 2018
That limited functionality gives the MP01 good battery life — almost 5 hours of talk time, and an optimal standby time of over 20 days.

— michael zelenko, The Verge, "There’s no perfect minimalist phone — yet," 3 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of optimal

optim(um) + ¹-al

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1890

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

OPTIMAL Defined for English Language Learners

optimal

adjective

Definition of optimal for English Language Learners

: best or most effective

Medical Dictionary

optimal

adjective op·ti·mal \ ˈäp-tə-məl \

medical Definition of optimal

: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum

optimal concentrations of a drug

—

optimality

play \ˌäp-tə-ˈmal-ət-ē\ noun, plural -ties

—

optimally

play \-mə-lē\ adverb

Learn More about optimal

Spanish Central: Translation of optimal Nglish: Translation of optimal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of optimal for Arabic speakers

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optimal

Definition of optimal

optimality

optimally

Examples of optimal in a Sentence

Recent Examples of optimal from the Web

Origin and Etymology of optimal

OPTIMAL Defined for English Language Learners

optimal

Definition of optimal for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

optimal

medical Definition of optimal

optimality

optimally

Learn More about optimal

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