optimal
adjective
op·ti·mal
| \ ˈäp-tə-məl
\
\
Definition of optimal
: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum
the optimal use of class time the optimal dosage of medication for a patient conditions for optimal development
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Other Words from optimal
optimality
\ ˌäp-tə-ˈma-lə-tē
\
noun
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noun
optimally
\ ˈäp-tə-mə-lē
\
adverb
\
adverb
Examples of optimal in a Sentence
He keeps his engine tuned for optimal performance.
Under optimal conditions, these plants grow quite tall.
Recent Examples on the Web
Weather conditions, with the potential for showers or thunderstorms, are not optimal. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "SpaceX to launch a rare expendable mission on Tuesday evening," 6 Aug. 2019 Heavy rainfall last summer sent many crabs farther south to hibernate in search of optimal salinity levels, said Allison Colden, a Maryland fisheries scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, "Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population is doing well heading into the Fourth of July, report says," 3 July 2019 The lost income from these less-than-optimal decisions amounts to about $111,000 per household, the researchers estimate. — Bloomberg, latimes.com, "Americans lose trillions claiming Social Security benefits at the wrong time," 1 July 2019 In 2010 octopus experts Julian Finn and Mark Norman documented what actually occurs: The argonaut moves by expelling jets of water, surfaces enough to trap air in her shell, then is buoyed at an optimal water level by the air bubble. 3. — Taylor Maggiacomo, National Geographic, "To mate, this octopus gives life and limb," 17 June 2019 Tech funds need to move into other industries as their own patch becomes crowded, but the weight of their money may not lead to optimal decisions. — Carol Ryan, WSJ, "When Tech Investors Venture Off Course: Silicon Valley Makes a Mess in the Kitchen," 14 June 2019 Anecdotally, this is a fan base that, like Cleveland, has endured years of sub-optimal roster decision making in a less-than-ideal climate, still managing to hold up their end of the bargain when the front office, coaches and players did not. — Conor Orr, SI.com, "Would the NFL Really Take the Bills Out of Buffalo?," 4 June 2019 Moreover, while evolutionary theory suggests that evolving systems can improve over time, nothing guarantees that they should be driven to an optimal level. — Jordana Cepelewicz, WIRED, "The Mysterious Math of How Cells Determine Their Own Fate," 24 Mar. 2019 Evolution shapes acceptable solutions, not optimal ones. — Quanta Magazine, "The Evolutionary Argument Against Reality," 21 Apr. 2016These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'optimal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for optimal
optimal
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of optimal
formal
: best or most effective
See the full definition for optimal in the English Language Learners Dictionary
optimal
adjective
op·ti·mal
| \ ˈäp-tə-məl
\
\
Medical Definition of optimal
: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum
optimal concentrations of a drug
Other Words from optimal
optimality
\ ˌäp-tə-ˈmal-ət-ē
\
noun,
plural optimalities
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noun,
plural optimalities
optimally
\ -mə-lē
\
adverb
\
adverb
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