submaximal

adjective

sub·​max·​i·​mal ˌsəb-ˈmak-s(ə-)məl How to pronounce submaximal (audio)
variants or sub-maximal
: less than maximal : not at the greatest or highest possible level
submaximal exertion
One hundred twenty asymptomatic patients underwent a submaximal treadmill exercise test two to three weeks after an acute myocardial infarction.JAMA
submaximally adverb
or sub-maximally
[Don] Mattingly said left-hander Paco Rodriguez … is throwing submaximally but will not return to the Dodgers before rosters expand. Pedro Moura

Examples of submaximal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The two submaximal sessions have a much smaller impact—a convincing illustration of the potential drawbacks of overly simple training load metrics like TWD. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 8 June 2022 Aerobic enzyme activity and the amount of fat used during submaximal exercise also increased more by training twice every second day compared with training once daily. Jason Karp, Outside Online, 10 Feb. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'submaximal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of submaximal was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near submaximal

Cite this Entry

“Submaximal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submaximal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

submaximal

adjective
sub·​max·​i·​mal ˌsəb-ˈmak-s(ə-)məl How to pronounce submaximal (audio)
: being less than the maximum of which an individual is capable
submaximal exercise
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