chock-full

American  

[chok-fool, chuhk-] / ˈtʃɒkˈfʊl, ˈtʃʌk- /

Also chock-ful,

adjective

1. full to the limit; crammed.

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chock-full British  

adjective

1. (postpositive) completely full

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Etymology

Origin of chock-full

1350–1400; Middle English chokke-fulle, equivalent to chokke (< ?) + fulle full ¹

Explanation

Things that are chock-full are crowded or packed. If your neighborhood roller skating rink is chock-full of kids, there's not much room for more skaters. If your freezer is chock-full of ice cream sandwiches, there's no extra space for your ice cube trays, and if your house is chock-full of sweaty football players, you might want to open a window to air the place out. The adjective chock-full sounds modern, but it's been around since about 1400, originally as chokkeful, which may be rooted in choke, or "cheek."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chock-full

Tune in to the newest episode of Hit Parade to learn why the Reagan era was chock-full of iconic No. 2, No. 11, and No. 41 hits.

From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026

During a career that was chock-full of momentous events, The Beatles enjoyed plenty of turning points that contributed to their unparalleled achievements.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

The season was chock-full of cameos from celebrities like Billie Eilish and Sia, and included former “Survivor” runner-up and “White Lotus” creator Mike White as a contestant.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

The typical Arcadia volume is chock-full of vintage photographs and tends to be less text-focused; History Press, as with the other imprints Arcadia has scooped up over time, allows authors to actually write more.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2025

Me and Ty'ree stared at the TV, feeling Mama somewhere nearby, and the house and my head chock-full with things we weren't allowed to talk about.

From "Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson