full

¹ American  

[fool] / fʊl /

adjective

fuller, fullest

1. completely filled; containing all that can be held; filled to utmost capacity.

   a full cup.

2. 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.

3. complete; entire; maximum.

   a full supply of food for a three-day hike.

4. of the maximum size, amount, extent, volume, etc..

   a full load of five tons;

   to receive full pay.

5. (of garments, drapery, etc.) wide, ample, or having ample folds.

6. abundant; well-supplied.

   a yard full of litter;

   a cabinet full of medicine.

7. filled or rounded out, as in form.

   a full figure.

8. engrossed; occupied (usually followed byof ).

   She was full of her own anxieties.

9. of the same parents.

   They are full brothers, but have a much younger half sister.

10. Music. ample and complete in volume or richness of sound.

11. (especially of wine, beer, or coffee) having considerable body and flavor.

    It's a lovely brew, exceptionally dark and full.

12. Baseball.

    1. (of the count on a batter) amounting to three balls and two strikes.

       He hit a slider for a homer on a full count.

    2. (of the bases) having base runners at each; loaded.

       The bases were full and nobody was out.

13. being slightly oversized, as a sheet of glass cut too large to fit into a frame.

14. 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.

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adverb

1. exactly or directly.

   The blow struck him full in the face.

2. very.

   You know full well what I mean.

3. fully, completely, or entirely; quite; at least.

   The blow knocked him full around.

   It happened full 30 years ago.

verb (used with object)

1. Sewing.

   1. to make full, as by gathering or pleating.

   2. to bring (the cloth) on one side of a seam to a little greater fullness than on the other by gathering or tucking very slightly.

verb (used without object)

1. (of the moon) to become full.

noun

1. the highest or fullest state, condition, or degree.

   The moon is at the full.

2. Baseball. a full count.

   Yellich has taken it to full in all four of his at-bats.

idioms

1. in full,

   1. to or for the full or required amount.

   2. without abridgment.

      The book was reprinted in full.

2. to the full, to the greatest extent; thoroughly.

   They enjoyed themselves to the full.

full ² American  

[fool] / fʊl /

verb (used with object)

1. to cleanse and thicken (cloth) by special processes in manufacture.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of cloth) to become compacted or felted.

full ¹ British  

/ fʊl /

adjective

1. holding or containing as much as possible; filled to capacity or near capacity

2. abundant in supply, quantity, number, etc

   full of energy

3. having consumed enough food or drink

4. (esp of the face or figure) rounded or plump; not thin

5. (prenominal) with no part lacking; complete

   a full dozen

6. (prenominal) with all privileges, rights, etc; not restricted

   a full member

7. (prenominal) of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parents

   full brother

8. filled with emotion or sentiment

   a full heart

9. occupied or engrossed (with)

   full of his own projects

10. music

    1. powerful or rich in volume and sound

    2. completing a piece or section; concluding

       a full close

11. (of a garment, esp a skirt) containing a large amount of fabric; of ample cut

12. (of sails, etc) distended by wind

13. (of wine, such as a burgundy) having a heavy body

14. (of a colour) containing a large quantity of pure hue as opposed to white or grey; rich; saturated

15. informal drunk

16. nautical another term for close-hauled

17. full of pride or conceit; egoistic

18. filled to capacity

    the cinema was full up

19. (esp of a pack of hounds) in hot pursuit of quarry

20. at the height of activity

    the party was in full swing

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adverb

1. 1. completely; entirely

   2. ( in combination )

      full-grown

      full-fledged

2. exactly; directly; right

   he hit him full in the stomach

3. very; extremely (esp in the phrase full well )

4. with maximum effort or speed

noun

1. the greatest degree, extent, etc

2. a ridge of sand or shingle along a seashore

3. without omitting, decreasing, or shortening

   we paid in full for our mistake

4. to the greatest extent; thoroughly; fully

verb

1. (tr) needlework to gather or tuck

2. (intr) (of the moon) to be fully illuminated

full ² British  

/ fʊl /

verb

1. (of cloth, yarn, etc) to become or to make (cloth, yarn, etc) heavier and more compact during manufacture through shrinking and beating or pressing

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full More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing full

• fill
• glass is half full
• have one's hands full
• in full swing
• to the full

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Other Word Forms

• fullness noun

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

Example Sentences

The full festival was also livestreamed for the first time.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

In order to open a full field investigation into a target, an agent would then need to establish an “articulable factual basis” for belief that a federal crime may be occurring.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

In 1991 Army veteran and divorced dad Anselmo “Tony” Ortiz, who also goes by the nickname Rocky, was working full time and attending college.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

OPEC+, as it’s known, “expressed concern regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, noting that restoring damaged energy assets to full capacity is both costly and takes a long time, thereby affecting overall supply availability.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

Surrounded by strangers on a late summer afternoon in front of the service window at Sandy June’s, his heart full of frybread and his mind clear, he realized it.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• absolute
• adequate
• broad
• complete
• comprehensive
• detailed
• entire
• exhaustive
• extensive
• generous
• maximum
• perfect
• whole