high gear

noun

1
2
: a state of intense or maximum activity
usually used with into or in
a project in high gear

Examples of high gear in a Sentence

She shifted the car into high gear.
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.
With four months left before FIFA World Cup 2026 arrives in North Texas, Dallas officials say transportation coordination, community engagement and Fair Park activations are moving into high gear. From Staff Reports, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026 This civic attitude kicked into high gear as ICE bore down on the state. Eric Roper, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026 The threat from China will hit high gear this year. Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 This is where the movie’s horror genre kicks into high gear, with the aggrieved pastor enlisting a deliverance healer to rid his son and Ryan of their demons. Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high gear

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of high gear was in 1889

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high%20gear. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on high gear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster