high-octane

adjective

high-oc·​tane ˈhī-ˈäk-ˌtān How to pronounce high-octane (audio)
Synonyms of high-octanenext
1
: having a high octane number and hence good antiknock properties
high-octane gasoline
2
: very powerful, strong, or effective
high-octane football
high-octane coffee

Examples of high-octane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wu, who plays a high-octane, attacking style of tennis, matched Alcaraz shot for shot in a thrilling opening set, and had a 3-1 tiebreak lead before Alcaraz settled. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 To boost octane ratings across the HyperFuel lineup, researchers lowered the amounts of lower-octane ingredients (GFT and LSRN) and added more high-octane ones (MED and reformate). — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026 In this case, the unlucky protag is Maia (Gadot), a single mother and high-octane solicitor (or lawyer, for those of you outside the UK) who’s about to prosecute a murder trial with the help of a key witness under state protection. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 The novel has the dizzying, high-octane feel of a MrBeast video. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high-octane

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-octane was in 1931

Rhymes for high-octane

See All Rhymes for high-octane

Browse Nearby Words

high-occupancy vehicle
high-octane
high off the hog
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-octane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-octane. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

high-octane

adjective
: having a high octane number and therefore good antiknock properties
high-octane gasoline

More from Merriam-Webster on high-octane

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