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Glite Dictionary
all-out

all-out

68 4.1
Very determined and using all available effort
  • adjective
  • /ɔl aʊt/
translation icon : total
  • She put in an all-out effort to finish the project on time, working late every night.
  • an all-out effort
  • an all-out war
  • launch an all-out campaign

I mean, Saudi Arabia is not capable of launching a all out nuclear war against the US.

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Examples

  • Because of Cold War competition, this nation consequently made an all-out effort to beat the Soviets to the moon.

    Academic text (2002)

  • You have to go all out for growth or be nothing.

  • Really went all out on the costume this year, huh?

    Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

  • You want it and you're going to go all out to have it.

  • - Yeah, she really went all out this year, that's for sure.

    House of Purgatory (2016)

  • The team began an all-out effort to recruit private physicians and medical centers into the study.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Dina had gone all out, cooking enough to feed a regiment, let alone the prodigal returned.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • But here's the thing, they need the real you, the authentic you, the one who's playing all out in their life and pursuing their dreams.

  • To succeed in the competition, you need to give it your all and go all-out in your preparation.

  • The team decided to make an all-out push for victory in the finals, leaving nothing to chance.

Synonyms

full-scale
vsall-out
49 4.1

Complete and using all available resources

focuses on full intensity and commitment rather than only project scope
to the limit
vsall-out
24 3.9

Do something as fully as possible

means maximum intensity and use of resources rather than any smaller degree
to the max
vsall-out
  • Informal
13 7.7

As much as possible

conveys maximum intensity and resource use more specifically than broad extent
flat out
vsall-out
  • Informal
4 4.3

To do something as fast and as hard as possible

expresses full commitment and resource use, not only speed or quickness
full stretch
vsall-out
  • UK
5.7

A situation when you use all your energy and ability

uses maximum resources and commitment in general rather than only personal effort

Antonyms

half-hearted
11 4.8

Showing little interest or effort

How Intense

all-out
68 4.1
energetic
93 1.6
moderate
415 3.3
half-hearted
11 4.8

Surface Forms

all-out positive

Morphology

all-out = all (transparent) = out + all

The adjective is a direct compound of 'all' + 'out' meaning 'complete' or 'maximum', which learners can derive from the components. [Postprocessing: moved 'out' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

All-out comes from joining all ('everything') and out ('completely'), giving the image of throwing everything into one action. So an all-out effort means using every resource and the most energy you have to reach a goal.