redline

1 of 2

noun

red·​line ˈred-ˈlīn How to pronounce redline (audio)
: a recommended safety limit : the fastest, farthest, or highest point or degree considered safe
also : the red line which marks this point on a gauge

redline

2 of 2

verb

red·​line ˈred-ˌlīn How to pronounce redline (audio)
-ˈlīn
redlined; redlining; redlines

intransitive verb

: to withhold home-loan funds or insurance from neighborhoods considered poor economic risks

transitive verb

: to discriminate against in housing or insurance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Power comes from a twin-turbo 6.6-liter V-8 with an 8500-rpm redline. Mark Takahashi, Car and Driver, 3 Dec. 2022 When the tach's needle swings toward the redline, the Yaris' growl recalls a Triumph Speed Triple shredding a mountain road, with the added aural component of the turbo's waste gate whooshing on throttle lift at corner entry. Dan Carney, Ars Technica, 22 June 2022 Hillsborough strives to foster participation and engagement from attendees with Saturday’s road rally, but there’s also a memorable tribute that entails all the concours cars firing up their engines and revving to redline. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 June 2022 For the money, there still isn't a better fling-about, redline-hungry, tire-smoking sports car to be had. Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 1 Feb. 2023 But that means this new engine doesn't have VTEC, and a smooth and linear pull to redline replaces the manic switchover point that helped give VTEC a cult following. Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 26 Jan. 2023 In the cockpit, its sound is immediate and omnipresent—at idle, when whirring at 3000 rpm, when screaming at the 7250-rpm redline. Arthur St. Antoine, Car and Driver, 15 Dec. 2022 The redline for power plants seems to be a leakage rate of 3.2%. Sarah Zhang, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2012 This time around, the engine was built by Cosworth to displace 4.0 liters and produce 654 hp and 344 ft lbs of torque on the way to a screaming redline of 12,100 rpm. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2022
Verb
The Concept2 RowErg is the standard by which all rowing machines are measured, a device that can redline your heart rate in minutes and is perfect for strengthening hips, glutes, back, and abs. Ebenezer Samuel, Men's Health, 6 Jan. 2023 Other than the shriek to redline, the exhaust's guttural throat clearing when tipping in and out of the throttle at elevated rpm tickled our car-enthusiast innards every time. Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 31 Oct. 2022 On a lonely canyon road, the twin-turbo engine spins to redline with ferocious thrust. Michael Harley, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Switch to Race mode and the transmission becomes aggressive, downshifting under braking and holding gears to redline. David Beard, Car and Driver, 9 Aug. 2021 Switch to Race mode and the transmission becomes aggressive, downshifting under braking and holding gears to redline. David Beard, Car and Driver, 9 Aug. 2021 Switch to Race mode and the transmission becomes aggressive, downshifting under braking and holding gears to redline. David Beard, Car and Driver, 9 Aug. 2021 Switch to Race mode and the transmission becomes aggressive, downshifting under braking and holding gears to redline. David Beard, Car and Driver, 9 Aug. 2021 Switch to Race mode and the transmission becomes aggressive, downshifting under braking and holding gears to redline. David Beard, Car and Driver, 9 Aug. 2021 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1952, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1968, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of redline was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near redline

Cite this Entry

“Redline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redline. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

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