full-blown
Americanadjective
-
fully or completely developed.
full-blown AIDS; an idea expanded into a full-blown novel.
-
in full bloom.
a full-blown rose.
adjective
-
characterized by the fullest, strongest, or best development
-
in full bloom
Etymology
Origin of full-blown
First recorded in 1605–15
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.
Faced with the choice of whether to continue enduring the American naval blockade, or to escalate, they have decided to escalate, though still stopping short of a full-blown war.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Yet while the structure is designed to be undetectable from the inside, it’s a full-blown metallic colossus on the outside — visible from the surrounding L.A. freeways.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
“We are in a full-blown crisis of believability,” Pryor said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026
"It did take her quite a few months to start realising, 'no, this actually is safe'," but now she has "full-blown zoomies outside, tail up, chirping, running around on her lead," Alana said.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
What had started as a covert and sneaky operation was now a full-blown mob scene.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
