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
Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
The announcement came as supporters and opponents of the plan mounted an all-out effort to persuade lawmakers before the start of a special session on Tuesday.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2024
Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 18 June 2024
Gaby Arreola, 31, of Santa Clara, described herself as an avid raver who likes to go all out.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for all-out 
Adjective
Skirmishes between Hezbollah and the IDF on the border have been simmering for months, threatening to boil over into an all-out war.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
The announcement came as supporters and opponents of the plan mounted an all-out effort to persuade lawmakers before the start of a special session on Tuesday.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2024
Adverb
Thankfully there’s a painter there to sort it all out.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 18 June 2024
Gaby Arreola, 31, of Santa Clara, described herself as an avid raver who likes to go all out.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for all-out
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'all-out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 30 Jun. 2024.
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