full
1 Americanadjective
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fuller,
comparative
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fullest
superlative
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completely filled; containing all that can be held; filled to utmost capacity.
a full cup.
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unable to consume more food or drink; physically satisfied by what one has eaten or drunk.
too full to eat another bite;
feeling full after a big breakfast.
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a full supply of food for a three-day hike.
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of the maximum size, amount, extent, volume, etc..
a full load of five tons;
to receive full pay.
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(of garments, drapery, etc.) wide, ample, or having ample folds.
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abundant; well-supplied.
a yard full of litter;
a cabinet full of medicine.
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filled or rounded out, as in form.
a full figure.
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engrossed; occupied (usually followed byof ).
She was full of her own anxieties.
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of the same parents.
They are full brothers, but have a much younger half sister.
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Music. ample and complete in volume or richness of sound.
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(especially of wine, beer, or coffee) having considerable body and flavor.
It's a lovely brew, exceptionally dark and full.
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Baseball.
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(of the count on a batter) amounting to three balls and two strikes.
He hit a slider for a homer on a full count.
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(of the bases) having base runners at each; loaded.
The bases were full and nobody was out.
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being slightly oversized, as a sheet of glass cut too large to fit into a frame.
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Poker. of or relating to the three cards of the same denomination in a full house.
He won the hand with a pair of kings and sixes full.
adverb
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exactly or directly.
The blow struck him full in the face.
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very.
You know full well what I mean.
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fully, completely, or entirely; quite; at least.
The blow knocked him full around.
It happened full 30 years ago.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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the highest or fullest state, condition, or degree.
The moon is at the full.
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Baseball. a full count.
Yellich has taken it to full in all four of his at-bats.
idioms
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in full,
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to or for the full or required amount.
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without abridgment.
The book was reprinted in full.
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to the full, to the greatest extent; thoroughly.
They enjoyed themselves to the full.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
adjective
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holding or containing as much as possible; filled to capacity or near capacity
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abundant in supply, quantity, number, etc
full of energy
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having consumed enough food or drink
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(esp of the face or figure) rounded or plump; not thin
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(prenominal) with no part lacking; complete
a full dozen
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(prenominal) with all privileges, rights, etc; not restricted
a full member
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(prenominal) of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parents
full brother
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filled with emotion or sentiment
a full heart
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occupied or engrossed (with)
full of his own projects
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music
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powerful or rich in volume and sound
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completing a piece or section; concluding
a full close
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(of a garment, esp a skirt) containing a large amount of fabric; of ample cut
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(of sails, etc) distended by wind
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(of wine, such as a burgundy) having a heavy body
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(of a colour) containing a large quantity of pure hue as opposed to white or grey; rich; saturated
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informal drunk
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nautical another term for close-hauled
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full of pride or conceit; egoistic
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filled to capacity
the cinema was full up
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(esp of a pack of hounds) in hot pursuit of quarry
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at the height of activity
the party was in full swing
adverb
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completely; entirely
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( in combination )
full-grown
full-fledged
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exactly; directly; right
he hit him full in the stomach
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very; extremely (esp in the phrase full well )
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with maximum effort or speed
noun
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the greatest degree, extent, etc
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a ridge of sand or shingle along a seashore
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without omitting, decreasing, or shortening
we paid in full for our mistake
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to the greatest extent; thoroughly; fully
verb
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(tr) needlework to gather or tuck
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(intr) (of the moon) to be fully illuminated
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of full1
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English full, ful; cognate with Gothic fulls, Old Norse fullr, Old High German foll ( German voll ); akin to Latin plēnus, Greek plḗrēs, Slavic ( Polish ) peƚny, Lithuanian pìlnas, Sanskrit pūrṇa-
Origin of full2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fullen; back formation from fuller 1
Explanation
Something that's full holds as much as it can. If your glass is full of root beer, it's up the brim — no more root beer will fit inside it. When a trash bag is full, it's time to take it outside, and when your mouth is full of cake, you'd better swallow it before you take another bite. When you're full of pizza, you can't eat any more, but when you're full of self-confidence, you have plenty of that quality. When the moon is full, it appears as large and round as possible. When your skirt, hair, or body are full, they're wide or ample.
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.
See Examples For:
We honor them by telling their full stories, not only about their accolades and medals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Coroner Rachel Knight said a full inquest was necessary as there was reason to suspect the death may have been unnatural.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Trump boarded the presidential jet in full view of video cameras and photographers, with AFP pictures showing two supply containers on hydraulic lifts at the front and rear of the aircraft.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
And unfortunately, the crew from the “Mas Maíz” video never made a full album.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The air was fragranced by the late autumn scent of cornfields full of veggies ready for harvest, rivers swollen with sweet water, and gentle cedar from the nearby trees.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
The officers failed to class Carmenza's death as a murder and did not pass it to a homicide team for a fuller investigation, as happens with suspected homicides.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
"The sodium likely originated from the lunar soil, whereas the lithium could come from the rocket itself," the post continued, adding that the team would offer more details following fuller analysis.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
When they are, life will be fuller and more rewarding with peace and harmony forever.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Reading “The Wilder Way” might not overhaul your life, but it will surely help you see how easily a fuller one can be had.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
His cheeks grew fuller, his eyes closer; his nose hooked, a scar appeared on his right cheek where no scar had been before.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
But fret not, because lettuce can still be enjoyed to its fullest when cooked.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
It added: "This support will continue to the fullest extent possible."
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
The fullest version of this argument came last week: “Trust the people who know the Iranians the best and have the most to lose,” Mr. Vance said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
He really had a unique ability to not just bring an artist to their fullest potential artistically, but commercially.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
I coughed loudly and played it to the fullest.
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
