chockablock

1 of 2

adverb

chock·​a·​block ˈchä-kə-ˌbläk 

: chock

chockablock full

chockablock

2 of 2

adjective

1

: brought close together

2

: very full

shelves chockablock with books

Did you know?

Chockablock started out as a nautical term. A block is a metal or wooden case with one or more pulleys inside. Sometimes, two or more blocks are used as part of a rope and pulley system called a "block and tackle" to provide a mechanical advantage—as, for example, when hoisting a sail on a traditional sailing ship. When the rope is pulled as far as it will go, the blocks are tight together and are said to be chockablock. Non-nautical types associated the chock in chockablock with chock-full, which goes back to Middle English chokkefull, meaning "full to the limit" (a figurative use of "full to choking"). We thus gave chockablock the additional meaning "filled up." Chockablock can also be an adverb meaning "as close or as completely as possible," as in "families living chockablock" or the seemingly redundant "chockablock full."

Synonyms

Adjective

• brimful
• brimming
• bursting
• chock-full
• chockful
• crammed
• crowded
• fat
• filled
• full
• jam-packed
• jammed
• loaded
• packed
• stuffed

Examples of chockablock in a Sentence

Adjective

the mantel was chockablock with knickknacks

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The dueling titans are building foundations in Hollywood that could be transformative not only for their many brands—which are chockablock with unplumbed archives—but also for the entertainment business, which knows how to tell a compelling tale. —Christina Binkley, Robb Report, 27 Apr. 2024

The official Taylor Swift online store is chockablock with earrings, hoodies, vinyl and other merchandise promoting the star's latest record-breaking album, The Tortured Poets Department. —Chloe Veltman, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024

Sherman works alone, in a Tribeca studio or in a converted barn on her property in East Hampton, which are now chockablock with wigs, costumes, props, and prostheses, accreted over years of rummaging. —Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2024

Only a handful of brands had big TikTok or Instagram influencers at their shows: Alix Earle attended Dion Lee, Danielle Bernstein and Tinx were among the crowd at Prabal Gurung, and Staud was chockablock with ring-light-haloed women posting about the vibes. —Rachel Tashjian, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1799, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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