maximize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to increase to the greatest possible amount or degree.
to look for ways of maximizing profit.
-
to represent at the highest possible estimate; magnify.
He maximized his importance in the program, minimizing the contributions of the other participants.
-
to make the greatest or fullest use of.
Maximize your time by planning ahead.
verb
-
(tr) to make as high or great as possible; increase to a maximum
-
maths to find the maximum of (a function)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of maximize
Explanation
When you maximize something, you make it as big as you possibly can, the way you would maximize your chances of winning the lottery if you spent all of your money on lottery tickets. It seems like you come across the word maximize most often in dry, boring contexts like businesses trying to "maximize" their profits or a politician wanting to "maximize" her government's potential. Regular people probably use it more often when they're talking about their computers, to mean "display a window at its largest size." When you maximize a window on your computer, you can actually see what the word means!
Vocabulary lists containing maximize
Scrabble: High Scoring Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
20 Common Words That Will Boost Your Scrabble Score
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Workshop 2, Part 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Athletes strategize their transfer path early in high school to maximize negotiations with colleges.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
“There are creative solutions to maximize value for shareholders if Mattel actively explores the landscape.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
To maximize the savings, the nonprofit communications director and her husband then sold their gas car to fund a home solar system.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
Liquid cooling and advanced thermal management are “an essential element to maximize AI token production and hyperscaler investment ROI,” says 22V Research’s Dauvin Peterson.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
“Economic man,” that great abstraction of economic science, is supposed to do whatever it takes, within certain limits, to maximize his economic advantage.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
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.
