max
n. countablen. the highest amount or level that is possible or allowed. You use it when you want to say something has reached its limit.
n. the maximum limit, capacity, or value achievable in a given context. Often used as a shortened form of 'maximum' in informal or technical registers.
The stadium is at its max today.
The pilot pushed the engines to their max to clear the mountain range safely during the ascent.
Engineers designed the bridge to withstand a weight load far beyond its theoretical max, ensuring safety even during extreme weather events or heavy traffic congestion.
Borrowed from German Max, diminutive of Maximilian in the 19th century, later also used as a nickname for Maxwell.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in the phrase 'to the max' to mean 'to the greatest possible extent'.
Last updated May 2, 2026