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• full time
  full time

  noun

  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
• full-time
  full-time

  adjective

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

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

See Examples For:

full time full-time

Children raised in two-parent families in which one parent is employed full time already have a host of advantages, while children raised in low-income single-parent households are more likely to face significant challenges.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

In March 2025, she opened up about her decision to relocate to the rural New York estate full time, explaining that the calm setting helped to ease the symptoms of her anxiety and OCD.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

After the success of her 2007 vintage, Gao dedicated herself full time to her winery, eventually moving the family vineyard just east of the Helan mountain, where vines are protected from sandstorms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

"Everything I have in my life, I owe to this festival, not just the chance to meet agents and producer writers but going full time as a writer," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

She could keep the kids in school and sew full time, make enough to get by without Henry’s help.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez

Reselling became a side hustle for many and a full-time job for some.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Going down to 10 men on the way to a 1-0 derby defeat is far from ideal, but at full-time Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca offered a different perspective.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

The number of men working full-time grew 1.3 million, and by 800,000 for women.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

“Back to the mom guilt — who am I to have someone full-time? A, in scarcity I can’t afford it, and B, I should be the one in the house doing all this stuff myself.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

“I’ve already tried. Mr. Sims told me they already have a full-time janitor and me.”

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez