optimal

op·ti·mal | \ ˈäp-tə-məl

How to pronounce optimal (audio)

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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

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Examples of optimal in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web Due to retirements and promotions, these four new firefighters -- as well as two additional firefighters who will be hired in the near future -- will maintain our staffing at the optimal level. — John Benson, cleveland, "Parma Heights swears in four new firefighters; two more expected this spring," 5 Feb. 2020 The entire operation must function at an optimal level by then. — Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football starting QB race among things to watch for 2020," 3 Jan. 2020 Due to its menu format, Hina operates solely on reservations, and every course is precisely synchronized so that each bite is delivered at optimal temperature. — San Francisco Chronicle, "Soleil Ho | Hina Yakitori’s $110 tasting menu unleashes the power of poultry, and it's worth it," 29 Nov. 2019 As with many cartridges, hand loaders can boost the performance of the round, but optimal results are best achieved with 24-inch barrels. — Mike Dickerson, Field & Stream, "10 Wildcat Calibers That Made the Grade," 22 Jan. 2020 With Heliogen, cameras atop the tower scan the sky, and image analysis software computes the optimal position for each mirror, which can rotate in increments smaller than 1/160 of a degree. — Laura Mallonee, Wired, "Automated Solar Arrays Could Help Incinerate Global Warming," 21 Jan. 2020 When the vacuum senses a change in floor type, Dyson's DLS system automatically adjusts the suction power accordingly for optimal cleaning. — Billy Cadden, Popular Science, "The best vacuums for any kind of mess," 16 Jan. 2020 The elegant and optimal solution is CrossFit—its workouts; its preferred diet of meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar; and a commitment to unearthing the truth behind mainstream medicine and health research. — Tessa Love, Outside Online, "Greg Glassman’s Easy Health Care Fix: More CrossFit," 16 Jan. 2020 But these after-the-fact approaches are, by nature, sub-optimal. — Eleanor Cummins, The New Republic, "Fast Furniture Is an Environmental Fiasco," 14 Jan. 2020

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.

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Last Updated

8 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Optimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optimal. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for optimal

optimal

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of optimal

formal : best or most effective

See the full definition for optimal in the English Language Learners Dictionary

optimal

op·ti·mal | \ ˈäp-tə-məl

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Medical Definition of optimal

: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum optimal concentrations of a drug

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