maxed out at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maxed out at" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe reaching a limit or maximum capacity in various contexts, such as finances, performance, or resources. Example: "My credit card was maxed out at its limit, so I couldn't make any more purchases this month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Experience levels maxed out at 20, where reaching level 10 was required to pass the course.

Smart Learning Environments

This segment of the ritual is maxed out at ten minutes because of various reasons that I failed to unearth.

Huffington Post

If you maxed out at 15 push-ups, do three sets of five push-ups, with a short ten second break in between each set.

WikiHow

Smaug maxed out at £42.9m.

The Guardian - Film

We maxed out at virtually seven minutes!

The Guardian - Music

In my 20s I maxed out at about 220 pounds.

The New York Times

Divergent maxed out at £6.7m in the UK.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The good news: You will only owe long-term capital gains taxes on the windfall, which maxes out at 20%.

Forbes

The studio starts at $300 without the fan and maxes out at 20 x 12 x 12 feet.

TechCrunch

The amount of assistance also maxes out at 25percentt of a household's monthly bill.

Huffington Post

Stripling had just thrown his 100th pitch after maxing out at 78 in one outing in spring training.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maxed out at", ensure the context clearly defines what is reaching its limit, whether it's a numerical value, a resource, or a capability. For example, instead of saying 'The system maxed out at', specify 'The system maxed out at 1000 users'.

Common error

Avoid using "maxed out at" when "maxed out" alone suffices. The 'at' is necessary only when specifying the limit. For instance, say 'The credit card is maxed out' rather than 'The credit card is maxed out at' if the limit isn't specified. Adding 'at' without providing a specific limit can sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maxed out at" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something has reached its maximum limit or capacity. As Ludwig shows, this construction is used to specify the upper bound of a value, quantity, or level.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maxed out at" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote reaching a specific upper limit. Ludwig confirms its validity. It is most commonly found in news and media, scientific publications, and wiki sources, and is suitable for neutral registers. When writing, ensure you specify the limit when using "maxed out at" to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "reached its peak at" or "topped out at" for variety. Remember that while "maxed out at" specifies a limit, just "maxed out" can be used when the limit is implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reached its peak at

Emphasizes the highest point attained, similar to reaching a maximum limit.

peaked at

Focuses on the highest value or level achieved, often implying a subsequent decline.

topped out at

Highlights the upper limit or ceiling that was reached.

reached a ceiling of

Implies that a barrier or constraint prevented further increase.

hit the limit of

Directly indicates that a maximum permissible quantity or extent was reached.

attained a maximum of

Focuses on the act of reaching the highest possible value or level.

culminated at

Suggests that something reached its highest point as the final stage of a process.

climaxed at

Similar to 'culminated at', indicating a high point reached at the end of a process or development.

stabilized at

Indicates reaching a final value, though implying previous fluctuations.

leveled off at

Signifies reaching a stable state, often after a period of increase or decrease.

FAQs

How can I use "maxed out at" in a sentence?

You can use "maxed out at" to indicate the highest level, amount, or limit something has reached. For example, "The studio starts at $300 without the fan and "maxes out at" 20 x 12 x 12 feet."

What's a simple way to rephrase "maxed out at"?

Alternatives include "reached its peak at", "topped out at", or "hit the limit of", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more common to say "maxed out at" or just "maxed out"?

"Maxed out" is generally used when the context makes the limit clear, while "maxed out at" is preferred when specifying a particular value or quantity. Compare "My credit card is maxed out" with "My credit card "maxed out at" $5,000."

What does "maxed out at" imply about future possibilities?

"Maxed out at" suggests a current limit has been reached, but it doesn't necessarily preclude future increases if conditions change. For example, "Experience levels "maxed out at" 20" suggests that, in the current system, level 20 is the highest, but the system could be updated to allow higher levels in the future.