What does maximum mean?
Word: Maximum
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: as large, high or great as is possible or allowed. As a noun, it means the greatest amount possible.
Synonyms: greatest, top
How do you spell maximum?
Syllables: max - i - mum
Tricky part: The vowel in the middle is an i, but it is said so quickly that maxemum and maxamum are common.
Watch out for: maxemum, maxamum
Memory tip: Practise saying the middle vowel as the short, clear i of big, and that i will stay on paper.
Maximum in a sentence
Example 1: The maximum speed on the road outside our school is 30 kilometres an hour.
Example 2: Each team can have a maximum of eleven players on the field.
Example 3: On hot May afternoons in Delhi, we turn the fan up to maximum.
Fun Fact
In maths and science the plural is often maxima, the Latin form, though maximums is also correct.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
maximum
a) utmost
b) minimum
c) supreme
d) peak
Show answer
b) minimum. Utmost, supreme and peak all point to the highest level, so they are on the same side as the page word.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
maxximum
a) x
b) u
c) i
d) m
Show answer
a) x. A single x makes the ks sound, as in taxi.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
mummaix
a) maximise
b) maximum
c) mammoth
d) mimicry
Show answer
b) maximum. With three m's and an x, these letters spell only maximum; mammoth, maximise and mimicry each bring in letters that are not here.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) quantaty
b) approximate
c) estimate
d) maximum
Show answer
a) quantaty. Quantity ends in -ity, like quality.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A lift sign says 'Maximum 8 persons'. What does it tell you?
a) no more than eight may ride
b) exactly eight should ride
c) at least eight must ride
d) eight trips are allowed daily
Show answer
a) no more than eight may ride
2. Rohan scored the maximum in his maths test. How did he do?
a) he got just over half
b) he got full marks
c) he scored the class average
d) he only just passed
Show answer
b) he got full marks
