full time

¹

[ fool tahym ]

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 Compare part time ( def ).

   The factory now operates on full time.

full-time

²

[ fool-tahym ]

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: Compare freelance ( def 1 ).

   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

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

noun

1. the end of a football or other match Compare half-time

Derived Forms

• ˌfull-ˈtimer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of full time¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Origin of full time²

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

"Opera and ballet are under particular strain at the present time due to funding pressures and we are fighting to maintain full time jobs and pay."

From BBC

Consider X: When the tech mogul bought the social network known as Twitter, he cut head count by 80 percent, forced workers to be back at the office full time and reduced costs including rent and vendor payments.

From New York Times

According to census figures, 44% of Medicaid recipients worked full time in 2023 and 20% worked part time.

From Los Angeles Times

Although they weren’t enrolled in school at the same time, the brothers connected with Petersen before the British natives left Sydney and again after Petersen moved to the U.K. to pursue acting full time in the 1960s.

From Los Angeles Times

He left the law firm in 1961 to devote himself full time to the travel-book business.

From New York Times