Word
maximize
Meanings
To make something as great as possible in amount, degree, or effectiveness.
To enlarge a window or display so it fills the entire screen.
Definition
To maximize something is to make it as large, strong, or effective as possible.
To maximize means to increase something to the greatest possible level or to use something in the most effective way. It is often used in planning and problem-solving when you want the best outcome from limited time, money, or resources. In everyday English, it commonly appears with abstract nouns like efficiency, profit, impact, or value.
Examples
- The operations manager redesigned the workflow to maximize efficiency without increasing headcount.
- I tried to maximize my study time by batching similar tasks and turning off notifications.
- She structured the presentation to maximize impact, starting with a concrete example and ending with a clear takeaway.
- They adjusted the camera settings to maximize clarity under low light during the interview.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse maximize with minimum and say “maximize the cost” when they mean “minimize the cost.”
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.