full
fuul
Full (adj) means holding as much as possible; with no more room left. Example: “The bus was already full by the second stop.”
adj
1
Holding as much as possible; with no more room left.
"The bus was already full by the second stop."
"Her suitcase was full before she even packed the shoes."
"The car park was full, so we had to park on the road."
2
Complete, with nothing left out or missing.
"He gave a full account of what happened."
"Please write your full name and address at the top of the form."
"The company promised a full refund if customers were not satisfied."
3
Having eaten enough, or more than enough.
"I'm full — I couldn't eat another bite."
"After two helpings of pasta, the children felt too full for dessert."
"Don't swim straight after lunch when you're full."
4
Rich, deep, or well-rounded, as of a sound, flavour, or shape.
"The wine had a full, rounded taste."
"The cellist produced a full, warm tone that filled the whole room."
"She wore a dress with a full skirt that swirled when she danced."
adv
1
Directly, completely, or exactly.
"The ball hit him full in the face."
"He looked her full in the eye and told her the truth."
"The sun shone full on the window, so the room was very hot."
noun
1
The point of greatest extent; the highest degree of something, as in "in full."
"Please pay the invoice in full."
"The speaker's words were printed in full in the newspaper the next day."
"Your balance must be paid in full before you can collect the keys."
How to use full
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishContaining the maximum amount, or complete with nothing missing.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "I'm full" (satisfied after eating) with "I'm fulfilled" (satisfied in life) — they mean very different things.
Common pairings
full moon
full stomach
in full
full speed
full of energy
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Word forms
- Plural
- fulls
- Third person singular
- fulls
- Past tense
- fulled
- Comparative
- fuller, more full
- Superlative
- fullest, most full
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bus was already _____ by the second stop.
Etymology
From Old English full, from Proto-Germanic *fullaz, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "full" — related to the English word "plenty."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for full
See all rhymes for full →Frequently asked questions
What does “full” mean?
The word “full” means holding as much as possible; with no more room left. In plain terms, containing the maximum amount, or complete with nothing missing.
How do you pronounce “full”?
“Full” is pronounced fuul (/fʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “full” in a sentence?
Here is “full” used in a sentence: “The bus was already full by the second stop.”
What is another word for “full”?
Words with a similar meaning to “full” include complete, thorough, glutted, gorged, sated and satiated.
What is the opposite of “full”?
The opposite of “full” — its antonyms — are empty, incomplete, partial, hungry and starving.
What part of speech is “full”?
Depending on how it is used, “full” can be an adjective, an adverb and a noun.
Where does the word “full” come from?
The word “full” comes from Old English. From Old English full, from Proto-Germanic *fullaz, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "full" — related to the English word "plenty.".
Is “full” a common word?
“Full” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between 'full' and 'filled'?
'Full' describes a state — the container holds all it can, as in 'the glass is full.' 'Filled' describes the action that produced that state — someone put contents in, as in 'the glass was filled with water.' Full is the result; filled emphasizes the process or who did it.
What is the opposite of 'full'?
The main opposite is 'empty' — containing nothing at all. In other contexts, 'hungry' opposes 'full' when speaking of appetite, and words like 'vacant' or 'available' oppose it when describing space or seats. 'Empty' is the most general and direct antonym across nearly all uses.
What are the different meanings of 'full'?
Besides holding as much as possible, 'full' can mean having eaten to satisfaction ('I'm full'), complete or at maximum ('full price,' 'full moon'), busy ('a full schedule'), or rich and deep ('a full flavor'). The core idea of nothing lacking runs through all of these senses.
What is the difference between 'full' and 'complete'?
'Full' means holding the maximum amount, with no room left, as in 'a full tank.' 'Complete' means having all the necessary parts, with nothing missing, as in 'a complete set.' A box can be full without being complete, and a complete set need not fill its container. One is about capacity, the other about wholeness.
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