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

Explanation

If you do something full-time, you spend most of your available time doing it. Working full-time usually means spending around forty hours a week doing your work. You can be employed at a full-time job, or you can be a full-time student. Some people are full-time parents, and you might hope to be a full-time artist or a full-time musician one day. In all of these examples, people use the majority of their waking hours (at least during the work week) focusing on one thing. This term dates from the late 1800s.

Example Sentences

Some say it’s unfair to be taxed for not wanting to rent or occupy a home full time.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 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

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 • Mar. 30, 2026

The girl's dad said that although "the school has done everything they can to help", he did not "feel comfortable with her going back full time" yet.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

“I still can’t afford it because I need to start working full time to help my family get out of debt. I need to work more than full time, in fact.”

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner