Jump To:

• 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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

Former “CBS Evening News” and morning show anchor Norah O’Donnell will also join “60 Minutes” full time as a correspondent, expanding her role with the show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

"We've lived here for three years full time and there has never been information that you should take this road if there is a fire, never."

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

The NAO says that part of the problem is a shortfall of around 2,200 full time probation officers, which the government expects to reduce to around 1,500 by September of this year.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Don’t miss: ‘I’d hate to end up with an unexpected tax bill’: I’m 73 and still work full time.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

When I finally returned to training full time, Aimee trusted the other coaches, Terry and Tamara, to give me what I needed when she wasn’t there, and for the most part, they did.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Several internal names are still being considered for full-time and contributor roles on the program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

The first question is whether you’re genuinely passionate about investing, or just trying to grow money on the side while working a full-time job.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

This calls for a full-time office designated to rebuild a professional intelligence agency that works.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

The 41-year-old former hairdresser, from London, described the experience as awful, especially as Khan had brought comfort while she gave full-time care to her mum.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

The fact was, now that I was training and competing internationally full-time, I needed even more money than before.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad