to the greatest degree

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to the greatest degree" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the highest level or extent of something, often in comparison to other degrees. Example: "She was committed to her work to the greatest degree, often staying late to ensure everything was perfect."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The cuts within universities will affect women to the greatest degree.

The Guardian - Opinion

"People pay taxes expecting that the public good will be served to the greatest degree possible.

The New York Times

"To the greatest degree possible, we're trying to retrieve what has been lost to history: the character of Hamilton's home as a freestanding mansion," Mr. Boch said.

The New York Times

Echoing reports of brick shortages from builders, delivery times for building supplies lengthened to the greatest degree since the survey began.

The Guardian - Business

"Bechtel has told us that they plan on using Iraqi resources to the greatest degree possible," said Luke Zahner, a spokesman for the United States Agency for International Development, which awarded the contract on Thursday.

The New York Times

In a statement to the Guardian, ICE said it was using "appropriate prosecutorial discretion and dedicating resources, to the greatest degree possible, to the removal of aliens considered priorities.

The Guardian

Bureau officials say those hired will be assigned to the greatest degree possible to the areas they live in, and Sunset Park has a large population of Hispanic immigrants.

The New York Times

It's these exclusively designed elements that are subjected to the greatest degree of fetishisation by Barbican enthusiasts – gracefully minimal knobs on kitchen hobs, hand basins and mirrors built into wall recesses – and they are duly treated to their own black-and-white portraits at the end of the book.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The problem for us is to really re-excite the rank and file to the greatest degree possible," said Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and chairman of the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s political committee.

The New York Times

The standing doctrine has for years been a major site of contestation between liberal and conservative judges, between those whose priority is maintaining access to court to the greatest degree possible and those who believe that the constitutional separation of powers makes the courts ill-suited to resolve many of the problems that people try to bring to them.

The New York Times

In historical structures, it is essential to preserve the original structure to the greatest degree possible.

Construction and Building Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to the greatest degree", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being maximized. For example, specify what quality, effort, or outcome is being amplified.

Common error

Avoid using "to the greatest degree" without a clear reference point. Readers might misinterpret what aspect is being maximized if it is not explicitly stated or implied by the surrounding text.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to the greatest degree" functions as an adverbial modifier. It typically modifies verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to indicate the extent or intensity of an action, quality, or state. Ludwig confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to the greatest degree" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to emphasize the highest extent or intensity of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, notably in science and news media. When employing this phrase, clarity is key. Ensure the context unequivocally specifies what aspect is being maximized to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "to the fullest extent" and "as much as possible" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to the fullest extent

Replaces "degree" with "extent", focusing on the scope or range.

to the highest possible degree

Adds "possible" to explicitly state that the maximum achievable level is intended.

to the absolute limit

Indicates reaching the complete and unchangeable boundary.

to the maximum level

Substitutes "degree" with "level", emphasizing the quantity or height.

to the utmost extent

Uses "utmost" to heighten the sense of reaching the highest possible limit.

to a superlative degree

Uses "superlative" to indicate an exceptionally high level.

as much as possible

Emphasizes the effort to reach the highest attainable quantity or amount.

to the highest standard

Emphasizes achieving the greatest level of quality or excellence.

to the nth degree

Suggests an extreme or intensified level, often beyond what is expected.

to the best of one's ability

Shifts the focus to individual capability and effort.

FAQs

How can I use "to the greatest degree" in a sentence?

Use "to the greatest degree" to indicate that something is being maximized or done as much as possible. For example: "The company aimed to satisfy its customers "to the greatest degree"."

What are some alternatives to "to the greatest degree"?

You can use alternatives such as "to the fullest extent", "as much as possible", or "to the maximum level" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "to the greatest degree" or "to a great extent"?

"To the greatest degree" emphasizes maximization, while "to a great extent" implies a significant but not necessarily maximal level. The choice depends on the intended emphasis.

What is the difference between "to the greatest degree" and "largely"?

"To the greatest degree" implies an active effort to maximize something, while "largely" indicates that something is mostly true but doesn't necessarily involve active maximization.