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,.  Also called 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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

"However, maximum decomposition is not desirable in every ecosystem," says co-project leader Franz Bender, head of the agroecological assessments team at Agroscope.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

Pete is now retired; Carter is serving a life sentence under maximum security.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

All ages are allowed to ride a Class 1 electric bike, which uses pedal assist and has a maximum motor speed of 20 mph.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

It will reach its maximum at 05:12 BST, when around 90% of the Moon will be within the umbra.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

A pie chart with equal slices in all areas of life for maximum happiness.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

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

During eccentricity maxima Earth moves closer to the Sun allowing for more sunlight to reach the Earth surface.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 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

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

The figures show the maxima and minima of excentricity during the last 300,000 years from Dr. Croll's Tables.

From Island Life Or the Phenomena and Causes of Insular Faunas and Floras by Alfred Russel Wallace

The maximums typically rise each year with inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

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

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

Deductibles average $5,000 for silver plans and $7,500 for bronze plans; out-of-pocket maximums were between $9,000 and $10,000, the research showed.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 28, 2026

Nine of Chisnall's maximums came after going 2-0 down but after the Englishman missed a dart at double 16 on a 143 checkout to clinch victory, Pietreczko reeled off three straight legs to progress.

From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2025

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