full time

¹ American  

[fool tahym] / ˈfʊl ˈtaɪm /

noun

1. the number of hours in a period, as a day, week, or month, considered customary for pursuing an activity, especially working at a job: FT, F/T

   The factory now operates on full time.

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full-time ² American  

[fool-tahym] / ˈfʊlˈtaɪm /

adjective

1. working or operating the customary or requisite number of hours in each day, week, or month.

   a full-time housekeeper;

   full-time production.

2. being indefinitely employed by one company for the customary or requisite number of hours.

   Only full-time employees are eligible for healthcare.

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adverb

1. on a full-time basis; on a schedule corresponding to the customary number of working or operational hours.

full-time ¹ British  

adjective

1. for the entire time appropriate to an activity

   a full-time job

   a full-time student

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adverb

1. on a full-time basis

   he works full time

full time ² British  

noun

1. the end of a football or other match Compare half-time

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Other Word Forms

• full-timer noun

Etymology

Origin of full time¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Origin of full-time²

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

“The time, effort and schedule that professional NFL officials work do not justify calling them anything other than full time,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Arians argued that making the officials full time would make everyone “answerable to the shield.”

From Los Angeles Times

For Cox, who was working full time in engineering and pursuing an MBA while her boyfriend was completing his medical residency, creating an ultra-compacted itinerary was the only possible way to travel.

From Los Angeles Times

As of June 2025, images revealed that work on the project was nearly completed, suggesting that Kylie may have been preparing to move into her new abode full time.

From MarketWatch

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens spent just one month living full time in their custom Texas mansion before packing up and heading to their new hometown of Indianapolis, where the NFL star is now set to spend the next season playing for the Colts.

From MarketWatch