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Definitions

flat out

[flat-out] / ˈflætˈaʊt /
ADVERB
at top speed
Synonyms
WEAK
all out at full speed at full throttle bluntly directly full-bore openly peak performance wide open
flat-out
ADVERB
at top speed
Synonyms
WEAK
all the way all-out at a good clip for all one's worth full blast head over heels in full gallop lickety-split the whole nine yards to the max unrestrainedly wide open without reservation

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.

I study music every night, and I have the privilege of calling someone like Babyface and just flat-out asking him, “How did you write ‘Whip Appeal’?”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

His accusation, Jones told Salon, is flat-out false.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

So Sauer’s claim that Murphy forced an unscheduled emergency stopover in Djibouti is just flat-out false.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2026

A 2016 consumer alert from the Federal Trade Commission, which appears to be the latest on the topic, warned people against this option, saying that the deals can be risky or “even flat-out scams.”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 4, 2026

We’d always wondered what would happen if we flat-out disobeyed him.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver