full

1
[ fool ]
See synonyms for: fullfullerfullestfulls on Thesaurus.com

adjective,full·er, full·est.
  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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  10. 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.

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

  12. 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
  1. exactly or directly: The blow struck him full in the face.

  2. very: You know full well what I mean.

  1. 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.

    • 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)
  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 about full

  1. in full,

    • to or for the full or required amount.

    • without abridgment: The book was reprinted in full.

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

Origin of full

1
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

Words Nearby full

Other definitions for full (2 of 2)

full2
[ fool ]

verb (used with object)
  1. to cleanse and thicken (cloth) by special processes in manufacture.

verb (used without object)
  1. (of cloth) to become compacted or felted.

Origin of full

2
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. 2024

How to use full in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for full (1 of 2)

full1

/ (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

  1. having consumed enough food or drink

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

  3. (prenominal) with no part lacking; complete: a full dozen

  4. (prenominal) with all privileges, rights, etc; not restricted: a full member

  5. (prenominal) of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parents: full brother

  6. filled with emotion or sentiment: a full heart

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

  8. music

    • powerful or rich in volume and sound

    • completing a piece or section; concluding: a full close

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

  10. (of sails, etc) distended by wind

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

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

  13. informal drunk

  14. full and by nautical another term for close-hauled

  15. full of oneself full of pride or conceit; egoistic

  16. full up filled to capacity: the cinema was full up

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

  18. in full swing at the height of activity: the party was in full swing

adverb
    • completely; entirely

    • (in combination): full-grown; full-fledged

  1. exactly; directly; right: he hit him full in the stomach

  1. very; extremely (esp in the phrase full well)

  2. full out with maximum effort or speed

noun
  1. the greatest degree, extent, etc

  2. British a ridge of sand or shingle along a seashore

  1. in full without omitting, decreasing, or shortening: we paid in full for our mistake

  2. to the full to the greatest extent; thoroughly; fully

verb
  1. (tr) needlework to gather or tuck

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

Origin of full

1
Old English; related to Old Norse fullr, Old High German foll, Latin plēnus, Greek plērēs; see fill

Derived forms of full

  • fullness or esp US fulness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for full (2 of 2)

full2

/ (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

Origin of full

2
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.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.