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VO2 max

American  
[vee-oh-too maks] / ˈviˌoʊˌtu ˈmæks /

noun

Medicine/Medical.
  1. the maximum volume (V) of oxygen (O2 ) that a particular person's body can absorb and use during intense exercise, measured in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute and often used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness.


Etymology

Origin of VO2 max

First recorded in 1965–70


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.

See Examples For:

Cardio is much more important than lifting because it’s about heart health and VO2 max and making sure your heart is in great condition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

Results showed that people with chronic fatigue syndrome took in roughly the same amount of oxygen as the control group -- their peak VO2 max was similar.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 10, 2025

Several studies reported that aerobic capacity, measured by a VO2 max test, remained unchanged after intermittent fasting in elite cyclists and runners, as well as in well-trained long-distance and middle-distance runners.

From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2023

Take, for instance, her VO2 max — a common fitness metric that measures how much oxygen one can absorb while exercising.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2022

Bergland assists groups training at altitude by providing physiological testing that monitors red blood cell counts and VO2 max, a measurement of the amount of oxygen an athlete can use.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2022

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