all-out

1 of 2

adjective

ˈȯl-ˈau̇t How to pronounce all-out (audio)
Synonyms of all-outnext
1
: made with maximum effort : thoroughgoing
an all-out effort to win the contest
2
: full-blown sense 2

all out

2 of 2

adverb

: with full determination or enthusiasm : with maximum effort
—used chiefly in the phrase go all out

Synonyms of all-out

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Adjective

Adverb

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Examples of all-out in a Sentence

Adjective Grandpa got the all-out support of the family when he decided to remarry at age 72 an all-out effort to break open the door Adverb went all out for her New Year's Eve party—she even had fireworks!
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
In the meantime, virtually nothing has been rebuilt in Gaza, Hamas is weakened but still in power, and a return to all-out fighting cannot be ruled out. — Joseph Krauss, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a long-range aerial war as their armies remain largely deadlocked on the battlefield, more than 4½ years after Moscow's all-out invasion of its neighbor. — Samya Kullab, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Then a character actor who plays a private investigator blew us all out of the water on the first take, just completely out-acting us all! — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026 There are all sorts of sides to Venus, a lot of shady characters complicating things, and in pure Bogie-Bacall fashion Ray gets to sort them all out while dealing with this colorful group. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for all-out

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all-out was in 1840

Rhymes for all-out

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Browse Nearby Words

allotype
all-out
all out
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Cite this Entry

“All-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-out. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

all-out

1 of 2 adjective
ˈȯ-ˈlau̇t
: made with maximum effort : extreme
an all-out attempt to finish on time

all out

2 of 2 adverb
: with maximum effort
went all out to win
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