maximum
noun
max·i·mum
ˈmak-s(ə-)məm 
plural maxima
ˈmak-sə-mə
or maximums
ˈmak-s(ə-)məmz
or maximums
ˈmak-s(ə-)məmz
1
a
: the greatest quantity or value attainable or attained
b
: the period of highest, greatest, or utmost development
2
: an upper limit allowed (as by a legal authority) or allowable (as by the circumstances of a particular case)
3
: the largest of a set of numbers
specifically
: the largest value assumed by a real-valued continuous function defined on a closed interval
maximum
adjective
Examples of maximum in a Sentence
achieved the maximum
Recent Examples on the Web
Today, that’s dropped to around 82.6 percent as more income has shifted above the taxable maximum.
—
Dan Doonan, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Herman is facing a maximum of 20 years on each possession count and 15 years on the weapons charge, the U.S Attorney’s Office said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2025
That correlates to a maximum of around 3,000 microplastics in a larger piece of gum, all of which could be ingested through the saliva.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025
Currently, victims can seek up to $890,000 in claims against state or local governments, but the proposal would reduce that cap to $400,000, aligning it with the maximum allowed under the Maryland Tort Claims Act.
—Amanda Hernandez, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maximum
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Dan Doonan, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Herman is facing a maximum of 20 years on each possession count and 15 years on the weapons charge, the U.S Attorney’s Office said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2025
That correlates to a maximum of around 3,000 microplastics in a larger piece of gum, all of which could be ingested through the saliva.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025
Currently, victims can seek up to $890,000 in claims against state or local governments, but the proposal would reduce that cap to $400,000, aligning it with the maximum allowed under the Maryland Tort Claims Act.
—Amanda Hernandez, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maximum
Cite this Entry
“Maximum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maximum. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maximum
noun
max·i·mum
ˈmak-s(ə-)məm
plural maxima
-sə-mə
or maximums
or maximums
1
: the highest quantity, value, or development
2
: an upper limit allowed
maximum
adjective
Medical Definition
maximum
noun
max·i·mum
ˈmak-s(ə-)məm
plural maxima
-sə-mə
or maximums
or maximums
1
a
: the greatest quantity or value attainable or attained
b
: the period of highest, greatest, or utmost development
2
: an upper limit allowed (as by a legal authority) or allowable (as by the circumstances of a particular case)
maximum
adjective
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