ALL-OUT Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

all-out

[ awl-out ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

using all one's resources; complete; total:
an all-out effort.
Synonyms: , ,

all-out

adjective

using one's maximum powers
an all-out effort

adverb

to one's maximum effort or capacity
he went all out on the home stretch

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of all-out¹

1905–10; adj. use of all out utterly, completely, Middle English al out

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Idioms and Phrases

With all one's strength, ability, or resources; not holding back. For example, They are going all out to make the fund-raiser a success . This seemingly modern term dates from about 1300, when it meant “completely” or “wholly.” It now refers to making a great effort and is also used adjectivally, as in an all-out effort . This usage became current in America in the late 1800s, with reference to races and other kinds of athletic exertion. In the mid-1900s it gave rise to the phrase to go all out and was transferred to just about any energetic undertaking. Also see go whole hog .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Staff at Cardiff University have voted in favour of all-out strike action and a marking and assessment boycott during the summer term.

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Nearly five months into the ceasefire, the return of Israeli air strikes to Beirut has intensified fears of a return to all-out war.

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The industrial action, which began in January and escalated to an all-out walkout in March, has seen hundreds of Birmingham's refuse workers on strike.

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Bin workers who belong to the Unite union began an all-out strike on 11 March, following sporadic walkouts since January.

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This has become life in southwestern Syria, with the threat of ever-deeper Israel incursions an omnipresent fear and deadly confrontations with residents feeding the prospect of an all-out war between Israel and Syria’s new authorities.

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More About All-out

What does all-out mean?

All-out describes using all of your resources or energy to accomplish something, as in Talya made an all-out effort on her midterm exams.

The related phrase all out usually follows go and means to make a total effort, as in Jamal’s parents really went all out for his birthday party, treating all the guests to helicopter rides!

Example: The away team won the game because they went for an all-out attack on the home team.

Where does all-out come from?

The first records of the term all-out come from around 1905, while the phrase all out dates back to at least 1300. It comes from the Middle English phrase al out.

An all-out effort can be either a physical or mental effort. When you put on a burst of speed at the end of a marathon, you’re physically going all-out. When you study for several weeks for a big exam, you’re mentally going all-out.

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What are some synonyms for all-out?

What are some words that share a root or word element with all-out?��

What are some words that often get used in discussing all-out?

How is all-out used in real life?

All-out is a common term often used in casual conversations.

It’s an all-out race to 5G and no one knows where the finish line is.

— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD)

Vogel: "I couldn't be more proud of our group. All-out effort and perseverance."

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)

I'm a firm believer in going all-out for the . If you can't wear it here, where can you wear it?

— Coco Rocha (@cocorocha)

Try using all-out!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for all-out?

A. full-blown
B. full-scale
C. maximum
D. half-hearted

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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