full

[ fool ]

/ fʊl /

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See synonyms for: full / fuller / fullest / fulls on Thesaurus.com

adjective, full·er, full·est.

completely filled; containing all that can be held; filled to utmost capacity: a full cup.

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.

complete; entire; maximum: a full supply of food for a three-day hike.

of the maximum size, amount, extent, volume, etc.: a full load of five tons;to receive full pay.

(of garments, drapery, etc.) wide, ample, or having ample folds.

abundant; well-supplied: a yard full of litter;a cabinet full of medicine.

filled or rounded out, as in form: a full figure.

engrossed; occupied (usually followed by of): She was full of her own anxieties.

of the same parents: They are full brothers, but have a much younger half sister.

Music. ample and complete in volume or richness of sound.

(especially of wine, beer, or coffee) having considerable body and flavor: It's a lovely brew, exceptionally dark and full.

Baseball.

(of the count on a batter) amounting to three balls and two strikes: He hit a slider for a homer on a full count.
(of the bases) having base runners at each; loaded: The bases were full and nobody was out.

being slightly oversized, as a sheet of glass cut too large to fit into a frame.

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.

adverb

exactly or directly: The blow struck him full in the face.

very: You know full well what I mean.

fully, completely, or entirely; quite; at least: The blow knocked him full around.It happened full 30 years ago.

verb (used with object)

Sewing.

to make full, as by gathering or pleating.
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)

(of the moon) to become full.

noun

the highest or fullest state, condition, or degree: The moon is at the full.

Baseball. a full count: Yellich has taken it to full in all four of his at-bats.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about full

in full,

to or for the full or required amount.
without abridgment: The book was reprinted in full.

to the full, to the greatest extent; thoroughly: They enjoyed themselves to the full.

Origin of full

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-

OTHER WORDS FROM full

full·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH full

full , fullness, fulsome

Other definitions for full (2 of 2)

full²

[ fool ]

/ fʊl /

verb (used with object)

to cleanse and thicken (cloth) by special processes in manufacture.

verb (used without object)

(of cloth) to become compacted or felted.

Origin of full

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fullen; back formation from fuller¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use full in a sentence

And he used that resource to its fullest 128 years ago this week.
128 Years Old and Still a Looker: Happy Birthday to Lady Liberty|Elizabeth Mitchell|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is there that you get the fullest sense of majesty and tragedy of this city transformed.
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11|John Avlon|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the way he understands life, to live it to its fullest.
It Ain't Easy Being Bisexual on TV|Amy Zimmerman|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unless I disagree with you, then I hereby disinvite you from all that fullest-life-living-unknown-embracing-growing stuff.
Class of 2014, Prepare to Be Powerless|Kevin Bleyer|May 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Offered fullest support of the White House, including Air Force One.
Notes on LBJ’s Death From His Closest Aide|Tom Johnson|January 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The rays of the ascending sun were bright upon it: and the superb palace of the Spanish kings shone in its fullest splendour.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Oh that their ranks could be kept filled and that a mould so unique was being used to its fullest in forming new regulars.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
I am a mere artisan in composition, but you will be an artist, in the fullest sense of the word.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
She had the fullest, clearest view of the situation, and she looked at it without flinching and without compromise.
Hilda|Sarah Jeanette Duncan
This present reprint, therefore, intends to give the fullest text of Richardsons introduction, and to indicate his changes.
Samuel Richardson's Introduction to Pamela|Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for full (1 of 2)

full¹

/ (fʊl) /

adjective

holding or containing as much as possible; filled to capacity or near capacity

abundant in supply, quantity, number, etcfull of energy

having consumed enough food or drink

(esp of the face or figure) rounded or plump; not thin

(prenominal) with no part lacking; completea full dozen

(prenominal) with all privileges, rights, etc; not restricteda full member

(prenominal) of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parentsfull brother

filled with emotion or sentimenta full heart

(postpositive foll by of) occupied or engrossed (with)full of his own projects

music

powerful or rich in volume and sound
completing a piece or section; concludinga full close

(of a garment, esp a skirt) containing a large amount of fabric; of ample cut

(of sails, etc) distended by wind

(of wine, such as a burgundy) having a heavy body

(of a colour) containing a large quantity of pure hue as opposed to white or grey; rich; saturated

informal drunk

full and by nautical another term for close-hauled

full of oneself full of pride or conceit; egoistic

full up filled to capacitythe cinema was full up

in full cry (esp of a pack of hounds) in hot pursuit of quarry

in full swing at the height of activitythe party was in full swing

adverb

completely; entirely
(in combination)full-grown; full-fledged

exactly; directly; righthe hit him full in the stomach

very; extremely (esp in the phrase full well)

full out with maximum effort or speed

noun

the greatest degree, extent, etc

British a ridge of sand or shingle along a seashore

in full without omitting, decreasing, or shorteningwe paid in full for our mistake

to the full to the greatest extent; thoroughly; fully

verb

(tr) needlework to gather or tuck

(intr) (of the moon) to be fully illuminated

Derived forms of full

fullness or esp US fulness, noun

Word Origin for full

Old English; related to Old Norse fullr, Old High German foll, Latin plēnus, Greek plērēs; see fill

British Dictionary definitions for full (2 of 2)

full²

/ (fʊl) /

verb

(of cloth, yarn, etc) to become or to make (cloth, yarn, etc) heavier and more compact during manufacture through shrinking and beating or pressing

Word Origin for full

C14: from Old French fouler, ultimately from Latin fullō a fuller 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with full

full

In addition to the idioms beginning with full

full blast
full circle, come
full of beans
full of crap
full of hot air
full of it
full of oneself
full speed ahead
full swing
full tilt, at
full well

also see:

glass is half full
have one's hands full
in full swing
to the full

Also see underfill.

full

Idioms about full

Origin of full

OTHER WORDS FROM full

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH full

Other definitions for full (2 of 2)

Origin of full

Words related to full

How to use full in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for full (1 of 2)

Derived forms of full

Word Origin for full

British Dictionary definitions for full (2 of 2)

Word Origin for full

Other Idioms and Phrases with full