maximize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "maximize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that something is increased or improved to its highest or most effective level. For example, "The company has implemented new strategies to maximize its profits."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whereas prudential practical reasoning, on Kant's view, aims to maximize one's happiness, moral reasoning addresses the potential universalizability of the maxims — roughly, the intentions — on which one acts.

SEP

"It is unconscionable that some companies, often supported by dishonest officials, are using unethical tax avoidance, transfer pricing and anonymous company ownership to maximize their profits, while millions of Africans go without adequate nutrition, health and education".

The Guardian - Business

Although Rubio won that election on a Tea Party wave, his carefully crafted campaign has sought to maximize his appeal to mainstream Republicans while retaining his conservative bona fides.

The Guardian

He is not going out there touting his experience in Massachusetts, he is saying, "I am a business guy and I know how to fix it," and this is his business.And when you are president as opposed to the head of a private-equity firm, then your job is not simply to maximize profits.

The Economist

It will be useful to read Mr Obama's remarks closely, as this line of attack promises to be a leading theme of his campaign:My view of private equity is that it is, it is set up to maximize profits and that is a healthy part of the free market, of course.

The Economist

The central purpose of foreign policy is to maximize the nation's security and well-being.

The Economist

Here, she is at her best.Ms Lennox tempers her immense vocal power in order to maximize nuance.

The Economist

In my view, the latter is the only moral choice, and the only choice that creates incentives for investors to maximize real-economic return rather than, say, hide behind guaranteed debt and press politicians to ensure the purchasing power of that debt is sustained regardless of the cost to aggregate wealth.

The Economist

The NYT points out the problem: "That could lead to increasingly difficult conflicts of interest for the government, as policy makers juggle broad economic objectives with the narrower responsibility to maximize the value of their bank shares on behalf of taxpayers".

The Economist

This will both maximize carrying capacity, and allow passenger to move to less-crowded areas of the train, balancing loading and unloading times at all doors.Very few American subways allow passengers to move freely between cars.

The Economist

Trim costs and distribute the cash to shareholders until it runs out.In a new post Tim Lee adds his thoughts to the above discussion:The CEO's job is to maximize shareholder returns.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "maximize" when you want to convey the idea of achieving the greatest possible extent or degree. For instance, "The company aimed to maximize profits this quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "maximize" when the context implies optimization or finding the best balance, not necessarily the absolute highest value. Overusing it can suggest a relentless pursuit of quantity over quality or other considerations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "maximize" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being made as large as possible. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, exemplified in phrases aiming to increase profits or efficiency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maximize" is a versatile transitive verb that signifies making something as large as possible. Ludwig AI confirms that the use of "maximize" is correct in the English language, particularly in business, science, and general contexts to describe efforts to achieve optimal results. It's a common term found in various sources like The Economist, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and The Guardian. While "maximize" is generally accepted, it's important to be aware of its nuances and choose it over alternatives such as "optimize" or "enhance" depending on the specific context. Remember to focus on scope, balance considerations, and sustainable approaches when using the term "maximize".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

optimize

Focuses on achieving the best possible outcome, considering constraints and trade-offs.

maximize the potential

Specifically targets the full realization of inherent capabilities.

amplify

Suggests increasing the intensity or magnitude of something.

boost

Implies a sudden increase or improvement.

enhance

Highlights the improvement of quality or desirability.

make the most of

Suggests using something effectively to achieve a desired result.

augment

Indicates adding something to increase size or value.

intensify

Emphasizes increasing the strength or degree of something.

exploit fully

Focuses on using resources or opportunities to the greatest advantage.

scale up

Refers to expanding something in size or scope.

FAQs

How can I use "maximize" in a sentence?

You can use "maximize" to describe efforts to increase something to its greatest possible extent, such as "We need to "maximize efficiency"" or "The goal is to "maximize profit"".

What are some alternatives to "maximize"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "optimize", "enhance", or "amplify" instead of "maximize".

Is it always appropriate to try to "maximize" something?

While "maximize" implies achieving the greatest possible extent, it's not always desirable or feasible. Sometimes, "optimizing" for balance or sustainability is more appropriate than simply maximizing a single aspect.

What's the difference between "maximize" and "optimize"?

"Maximize" means to increase something to the greatest possible amount or degree, while "optimize" means to make something as effective, perfect, or useful as possible. Optimizing often involves balancing competing factors, whereas maximizing focuses on a single variable.