full

¹ American  

[fool] / fʊl /

adjective

• fuller,
  comparative
• fullest
  superlative

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

Derived Forms

• fullness
  noun

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• fuller
  comparative
• fullest
  superlative

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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

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Explanation

Something that's full holds as much as it can. If your glass is full of root beer, it's up the brim — no more root beer will fit inside it. When a trash bag is full, it's time to take it outside, and when your mouth is full of cake, you'd better swallow it before you take another bite. When you're full of pizza, you can't eat any more, but when you're full of self-confidence, you have plenty of that quality. When the moon is full, it appears as large and round as possible. When your skirt, hair, or body are full, they're wide or ample.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

full fuller fullest

“We’re going to need a full briefing specifically as it relates to the Nvidia issue,” Jeffries said, adding that “real concerns” have arisen from the case that will need to be addressed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026

She gave a full account of the money that had been taken, even bringing with her the empty evidence bags that cash had been seized in, police said.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

"He's a great guy," Trump told the room full of reporters.

From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026

“This quarter marks a full year of consistent delivery,” Chief Executive Mark Hill said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

Five, because before he’d discovered this use for moss, he’d used hot candle wax, which had ruined his hearing for a full month.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Creating jobs that would help people live fuller lives became Steve’s motivator, one he saw as linked to the board’s demand for growth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

A fuller picture is expected when the company delivers its official earnings results on Nov. 3.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

Either result will paint a fuller picture, widening the spotlight little by little, until everything begins to glow.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

There were only 19 deliveries pitched fuller than six metres between the 20th and 60th overs.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

His face was the same as in my photo of him, except older, of course, and his cheeks were fuller.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks

Satellite imagery shows damage at more than two dozen installations, in the fullest accounting of the destruction yet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

A new survey of 57 of the world’s biggest private banks and other lenders, conducted by Deloitte and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, offers the fullest picture yet of this opaque corner of finance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Known as the Harvest Moon, it will reach its fullest point at 17:49 BST on Saturday 26 September.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

The exact times of the moonrise will vary across the UK but will be shortly after it reaches its fullest point.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Any violation meant he would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

From "Orbiting Jupiter" by Gary D. Schmidt

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Related Words

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