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Synonyms

max

1 American  
[maks] / mæks /

noun

  1. maximum.

adjective

  1. maximum.

adverb

  1. maximally.

verb phrase

  1. max out

    1. to reach a point at which no more improvement, profit, or benefit can occur; level off.

      In her last job she maxed out at $25,000 a year.

    2. to reach the limit of one's capacity, endurance, etc..

      The sales department has maxed out and needs more personnel to call on new clients.

idioms

  1. to the max, to the greatest or furthest degree; totally.

    That book is disgusting to the max.
Max 2 American  
[maks] / mæks /

noun

  1. a male given name, form of Maximilian.

MAX 3 American  

abbreviation

Trademark.

  1. Cinemax: a cable television channel.

max. 4 American  

abbreviation

  1. maximum.

max 1 British  
/ mæks /

noun

  1. the most significant, highest, furthest, or greatest thing

  2. to the ultimate extent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
max. 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. maximum

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of max

By shortening

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Full benefits aren’t paid until age 67 for those born in 1960 or later and max out at age 70.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026

"And now, in 20 days, we're able to complete the orders to fill our ship to max capacity and go to Venezuela and complete the orders right away."

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026

The Bwarm is comfortable, though it didn’t reach the max claimed temperature of 129 degrees—I measured around 112—and it needs about 30 minutes to fully warm the bed before climbing in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Howe had called on Wissa to "max out" before the game, and he led the press effectively against a naive PSV side, who repeatedly played out from the back.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

The most startling corridor—my favorite, actually—was the long, semi-open one connecting the max facility to the school building and Tappan, across the railroad tracks.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.