maximum

American  

[mak-suh-muhm] / ˈmæk sə məm /

noun

plural

maximums, maxima

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.

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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 /

plural

maximums

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

• maximumly adverb
• submaximum adjective

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

“The approach is clear: maximum moral clarity in the public sphere, and the greatest possible dialogue in the halls of power,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

It was not about coaxing the maximum possible pleasure out of a cut of meat.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Within hours of the initial strikes on Iran, major hospitals across Israel shifted to maximum emergency readiness, moving patients and critical departments underground.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Fans who won a time slot in this drop but didn’t reach the ticket maximum will be automatically entered into subsequent ticket lotteries until they max out their ticket allotment.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Ifx represents the vector of variables, b and c are vectors of known coefficients, and A is a matrix of coefficients, determine the maximum value of the objective function cTx .

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• ceiling
• peak