optimal
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of optimal
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How does optimal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Something that's optimal is the best or most favorable for a given situation. Flowers? Check. Chocolates? Check. Dinner reservation? Check. Sounds like you have the optimal conditions for a successful anniversary date. There's an implication with optimal that certain restrictions exist in a given situation, so that what is optimal isn't necessarily the ideal scenario — it's the best one given those limitations. For example, optimal population levels for a species are not the highest levels — instead they're the best levels that a particular environment can sustain. Often the word optimum is used interchangeably with optimal.
Vocabulary lists containing optimal
What If It's Us
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The Martian
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Apple
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Among people with optimal blood pressure, consuming 1-3 cups a day was associated with a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
The hourlong recommendation is based on research from Texas Christian University on the optimal time needed for children to reduce stress and anxiety, improve test scores and fight obesity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
He is confident, too, that Santa Barbara was an optimal launching pad for getting him there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
To serve an optimal chilled red wine, you shouldn't keep the bottle in the fridge overnight.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
“While the wind conditions do not seem optimal, neither does the terrain for ground travel. It is important to get more information before you proceed.”
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
