Ichidan verb, transitive verb

  1. to carry to extremes, to go to the end of something, to reach the limits of something.
  2. to reach the peak of something (e.g. luxury, hardships, etc), to be extremely (e.g. busy).
  3. to exhaust completely, to have nothing left (e.g. to say).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
極める きわめる
 
 
窮める きわめる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

poles, settlement, conclusion
キョク ゴク きわ.める (4th, N2)
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)
fast, quick, sudden
キョク キ ケ (Kentei 1)
obstruction of breath (qi) as it seeks release, variant of other characters
コウ さまた.げられる
sigh(嘆) variant
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また ユウ やす (8th, N1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)