1
: in a blunt and direct manner : openly
called flat out for revolution—
Nat'l Review
Nat'l Review2
: at top speed or peak performance
the car does 180 m.p.h. flat out
3
usually flat-out
: absolutely, downright
—usually used as an intensive
is just flat-out confusing
Examples of flat-out in a Sentence
Adjective
regarded their son-in-law as a flat-out loser and let him know it
Adverb
I told him flat out that I have no intention of marrying him.
We asked for more time but they refused us flat out.
The car does 180 mph flat out.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The improvements in pulling off large set pieces continues to scale from season to season—comparing this battle to the Bel Tine fight back in the first bits of season 1 shows not just better visual effects or whatever, but just flat-out better composition and clearer storytelling.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Rookie of the Year candidate Dylan Crews has fallen flat out of the gate, but Parker and Gore have been good in the first two turns through the rotation.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flat-out
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Adjective
Everyone else is trudging along, if not toiling through a flat-out slump.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The improvements in pulling off large set pieces continues to scale from season to season—comparing this battle to the Bel Tine fight back in the first bits of season 1 shows not just better visual effects or whatever, but just flat-out better composition and clearer storytelling.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Deputy Latah County Prosecutor Ashley Jennings also flat out denied Taylor's accusations that prosecutors were slow-walking discovery and said everything the defense has asked for has been provided, a point that Taylor conceded in front of the judge.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Rookie of the Year candidate Dylan Crews has fallen flat out of the gate, but Parker and Gore have been good in the first two turns through the rotation.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flat-out
Cite this Entry
“Flat-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flat-out. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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