extremar

to maximise

verb ehks-treh-MAHR Rare

Origin: From Latin extremare, from extremus (furthest, utmost).

Also means

to take to the extreme

Usage Note

Extremar means to push something to its furthest degree — most commonly in the phrase extremar las precauciones ('to take maximum precautions / exercise the utmost care'). It is a regular -ar verb. The reflexive extremarse means 'to go to great lengths' or 'to exert oneself to the extreme.' It does not mean 'to exterminate'; that is exterminar.

Examples

"Debemos extremar las precauciones en invierno."

Natural Translation

We must take maximum precautions in winter.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Filler Words: 15 Ways to Sound Natural

Spanish filler words like pues, o sea, and vale make you sound natural, not robotic. Learn 15 muletillas sorted by job, by region, and when not to use them.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Say "You" in Spanish: Tú, Usted, Vos & Vosotros

Spanish has five words for "you": tú, usted, vos, vosotros, and ustedes. Learn which to use by who you're talking to and where — plus the verb endings.

June 3, 2026 6 min read