1
: made with maximum effort : thoroughgoing
an all-out effort to win the contest
: with full determination or enthusiasm : with maximum effort
—used chiefly in the phrase go all out
Synonyms
Adjective
- absolute
- arrant
- blank
- blooming [chiefly British]
- bodacious [Southern & Midland]
- categorical
- categoric
- clean
- complete
- consummate
- crashing
- damn
- damned
- dead
- deadly
- definite
- downright
- dreadful
- fair
- flat
- flat-out
- out-and-out
- outright
- perfect
- plumb
- profound
- pure
- rank
- regular
- sheer
- simple
- stark
- stone
- straight-out
- thorough
- thoroughgoing
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
Adverb
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
David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
One such longtime supporter, a 30-something businessman in Beirut who gives the name Hussein, had his loyalty tested before, in the last all-out Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2024
Essence, 21 Oct. 2024
From keeping it casual at Friendsgiving to feasting with the entire fam, Thanksgiving is a great excuse to go all out with color and shimmer.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for all-out 
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Adjective
The Canadian driver crashed at Turn 4, leading to all-out chaos.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
One such longtime supporter, a 30-something businessman in Beirut who gives the name Hussein, had his loyalty tested before, in the last all-out Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2024
Adverb
For those who love the transformative power of makeup, Halloween offers the ideal opportunity to go all out with creativity and imagination.
—Essence, 21 Oct. 2024
From keeping it casual at Friendsgiving to feasting with the entire fam, Thanksgiving is a great excuse to go all out with color and shimmer.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for all-out
Dictionary Entries Near all-out
Cite this Entry
“All-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-out. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
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