optimal

adjective

op·​ti·​mal ˈäp-tə-məl How to pronounce optimal (audio)
: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum
the optimal use of class time
the optimal dosage of medication for a patient
conditions for optimal development
optimality noun
optimally adverb

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
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.
This can be an optimal time for a sugar craving to arise. Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2025 The various researchers The Athletic spoke to point to a glaring dearth of research into menstrual cycles and optimal hormone levels of different ethnicities. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 For the poll, 1,046 Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 were surveyed to gauge the importance of morning routines, and how people prefer to structure their mornings for optimal well-being. Renée Onque, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025 The response to the Palisades Fire—and the five others burning around Los Angeles County in early January—was far from optimal. Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for optimal

Word History

Etymology

optim(um) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of optimal was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Optimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optimal. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

optimal

adjective
op·​ti·​mal ˈäp-tə-məl How to pronounce optimal (audio)
optimally adverb

Medical Definition

optimal

adjective
op·​ti·​mal ˈäp-tə-məl How to pronounce optimal (audio)
: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum
optimal concentrations of a drug
optimality noun
plural optimalities
optimally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on optimal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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