# max

/ˈmæks/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/max
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the highest amount

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the largest amount or highest level that is allowed or possible.

For teachers: a clipping of 'maximum' denoting the greatest quantity, degree, or value attainable.

- The temperature reached a max of thirty degrees this afternoon.
- The engine was pushed to its max during the endurance test to ensure the cooling system could handle extreme stress.

Usage: Often used in technical or casual contexts where 'maximum' feels too long.

### 2. maximal

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

being the largest or highest possible.

For teachers: denoting the greatest possible quantity or degree; non-gradable.

- You need to use max effort if you want to win the race.
- The athlete achieved max heart rate during the final sprint of the triathlon.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 3. at the most

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

used to say that an amount is the highest it can be and no more.

For teachers: functioning as a post-modifier to indicate an upper limit; synonymous with 'at most'.

- The trip will take twenty minutes max if there is no traffic.
- The repair should cost fifty dollars max, assuming no additional parts are required.

Usage: Typically follows the number or amount it qualifies.

### 4. to reach the limit

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to reach the highest point or limit of something.

For teachers: to reach a maximum limit or capacity; often used with 'out'.

- I think I have maxed out my credit card this month.
- The production line maxed out its capacity after the factory received a sudden surge in international orders.

Usage: Frequently appears as the phrasal verb 'max out'.

### 5. Boeing 737 MAX

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a specific type of modern passenger airplane made by Boeing.

For teachers: a specific series of narrow-body aircraft, the fourth generation of the Boeing 737.

- Our flight to London was on a new Boeing 737 MAX.
- The airline decided to ground its fleet of MAX aircraft pending further safety inspections by the aviation authority.

Usage: Always capitalized when referring to the aircraft model.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.