maximum

American  

[mak-suh-muhm] / ˈmæk sə məm /

noun

• maximums,
  plural
• maxima
  plural

1. 

   the greatest quantity or amount possible, assignable, allowable, etc.

2. the highest amount, value, or degree attained or recorded.

3. an upper limit allowed or allowable by law or regulation.

4. Mathematics.

   1. Also called relative maximum, local maximum. the value of a function at a certain point in its domain, which is greater than or equal to the values at all other points in the immediate vicinity of the point.

   2. the point in the domain at which a maximum occurs.

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adjective

1. that is a maximum; greatest or highest possible or attained.

   maximum satisfaction; maximum temperature.

2. pertaining to a maximum or maximums.

maximum British  

/ ˈmæksɪməm /

noun

1. the greatest possible amount, degree, etc

2. the highest value of a variable quantity

3. maths

   1. a value of a function that is greater than any neighbouring value

   2. a stationary point on a curve at which the tangent changes from a positive value on the left of this point to a negative value on the right Compare minimum

   3. the largest number in a set

4. astronomy

   1. the time at which the brightness of a variable star has its greatest value

   2. the magnitude of the star at that time

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adjective

1. of, being, or showing a maximum or maximums

maximum Scientific  

/ măk′sə-məm /

• maximums
  plural

1. The greatest known or greatest possible number, measure, quantity, or degree.

2. The greatest value of a mathematical function, if it has such a value.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• submaximum
  adjective
• maximumly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• maxima
  plural
• maximums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of maximum

First recorded in 1730–40; from Latin, noun use of neuter of maximus, superlative of magnus “great, large”

Explanation

Both a noun and an adjective, maximum takes it to the max: it means the most, the fastest, the biggest. "The most you can have is the maximum": that's the noun. In "the maximum amount is the most you can have," it's used as an adjective. You might be familiar with the shortened version of the word: the "max." If you take something "to the max," you're doing as much of it as possible. You take it to the limit. You take it to the maximum.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

maximum maxima maximums

Davis, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo argued Tuesday, profited off the rapper’s death in writing his memoir and “deserved the maximum possible sentence.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

The US firm's CEO made the announcement on social media, external, saying developers are being moved to "retool for maximum AI acceleration".

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Jet drones have a range of nearly 600 miles and carry a maximum payload of almost 200 pounds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

Investors should also remember that pullbacks are typical, with the average maximum drawdown during Year 5 of 14%, Lerner calculates.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it.”

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

In a 2021 study, researchers including Owens showed that geomagnetic storms tend to occur more often during periods of higher activity, centered around peaks known as solar maxima.

From Science Magazine ● May 13, 2024

This popular methodology, which relies on machine learning, can be used to determine the maxima of a function of an unknown shape.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 5, 2024

In momentum space, free electrons are found in the local minima and maxima of the energy landscape, namely at points where the conduction and valence bands meet.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 17, 2024

Silverman recently finished her second week of guest hosting “The Daily Show” and reaped a shiny mea culpa maxima profile in the Los Angeles Times.

From Salon ● Dec. 3, 2023

M. Hansky finds that the visibility of the “light” is greater during periods of maximum solar activity—that is, at the maxima of sun spots.

From Astronomical Curiosities Facts and Fallacies by J. Ellard Gore

The maximum temperature is the mean average of the daily maximums recorded across all nearest grid cells for the month or season; the minimum temperature is the mean average of the daily minimums.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Employees and teams can earn between $10,000 and $25,000 for major contributions to the enterprise—five times previous award maximums.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

The 19-year-old averaged 111 and landed 12 maximums, while world number two Humphries finished with an average of 105 and three 100+ checkouts.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

Premium growth slowed compared to prior years, but out-of-pocket maximums continued to climb.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

The weather report was routine—even boring—with details about air pressure, wind speeds, and temperature maximums and minimums.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• ceiling
• peak