1
: containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
a full hamper
—often used with ofa bin full of corn
2
a
: complete especially in detail, number, or duration
a full report
gone a full hour
my full share
b
: lacking restraint, check, or qualification
full retreat
full support
c
: having all distinguishing characteristics : enjoying all authorized rights and privileges
full member
full professor
d
: not lacking in any essential : perfect
in full control of your senses
e(1)
: completely occupied by runners
came to bat with the bases full
(2)
: having three balls and two strikes
a full count
3
a
: being at the highest or greatest degree : maximum
full speed
full strength
b
: being at the height of development
full bloom
c
: being a full moon : completely illuminated
the moon is full tonight
4
: rounded in outline
a full figure
5
a
: possessing or containing a great number or amount
—used with of
a room full of pictures
full of hope
b
: having an abundance of material especially in the form of gathered, pleated, or flared parts
a full skirt
c
—used as an intensive to emphasize the large size of an amount
won by a full four strokes
was a full 3 months late with her payment
d
: rich in experience
a full life
6
a
: satisfied especially with food or drink
He was full after eating the large supper.
b
: large enough to satisfy
a full meal
7
archaic
: completely weary
8
: having both parents in common
full sisters
9
: having volume or depth of sound
full tones
10
: completely occupied especially with a thought or plan
full of his own concerns
11
: possessing a rich or pronounced quality
a food of full flavor
1
: the highest or fullest state or degree
the full of the moon
2
: the utmost extent
enjoy to the full
fulled; fulling; fulls
of the moon
: to become full
: to make full in sewing
fulled; fulling; fulls
: to shrink and thicken (woolen cloth) by moistening, heating, and pressing
Synonyms
Adjective
- brimful
- brimming
- bursting
- chockablock
- chock-full
- chockful
- crammed
- crowded
- fat
- filled
- jammed
- jam-packed
- loaded
- packed
- stuffed
Adverb
- all
- all of
- all over
- altogether
- clean
- completely
- dead
- enough
- entire
- entirely
- even
- exactly
- fast
- flat
- fully
- heartily
- out
- perfectly
- plumb [chiefly dialect]
- quite
- soundly
- thoroughly
- through and through
- totally
- utterly
- well
- wholly
- wide
Noun
Examples of full in a Sentence
Adjective
The plane was carrying a full load of passengers.
The theater was full to capacity.
We bought a full set of dishes.
They waited for three full months.
He has a full array of stereo equipment.
The soldiers were wearing full combat gear.
This will be his first full season with the team.
His theories have not yet found full acceptance.
I hope that you'll give us your fullest cooperation.
Please give me your full attention.
Adverb
The cup was filled full to the brim.
The ball hit him full in the chest.
He kissed her full on the lips.
Noun
the account is now paid in full
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Inside the exam hall, a big room with long windows, full of quiet, Gabriel felt unfettered.
—Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Don Maines, Houston Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2020
When in their feeding grounds, a gray whale typically eats about 1.3 tons of food — mouth-fulls of crustaceans, worms, shrimp and small, schooling fish — per day, according to researchers.
—Anchorage Daily News, 25 Jan. 2020
See all Example Sentences for full 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The fields of law and insurance are extremely complicated for the layperson, with documents full of terms and concepts that may as well be a foreign language to those unfamiliar with them.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Inside the exam hall, a big room with long windows, full of quiet, Gabriel felt unfettered.
—Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
All sizes will be available, including twins from $99, fulls ($149), queens ($199) and kings ($299).
—Don Maines, Houston Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2020
When in their feeding grounds, a gray whale typically eats about 1.3 tons of food — mouth-fulls of crustaceans, worms, shrimp and small, schooling fish — per day, according to researchers.
—Anchorage Daily News, 25 Jan. 2020
See all Example Sentences for full
Dictionary Entries Near full
Cite this Entry
“Full.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
full
1 of 3 adjective1
: containing as much or as many as possible or normal
a bottle full of milk
a full hamper
2
a
: complete in number, amount, or duration
a full set of dishes
for a full hour
b
: not missing any essentials : perfect
in full control of the car
c
: being at the highest or greatest degree
in full bloom
at full power
full strength
d
: fully lighted
the moon is full
e
: completely occupied by runners
come to bat with the bases full
f
: having three balls and two strikes
a full count
3
a
: plump and rounded in outline
a full face
b
: having much material
a full skirt
4
: possessing or containing a great number or amount
a room full of pictures
full of hope
5
: satisfied especially with food or drink
6
: having the same parents
full sisters
7
: completely taken up especially with a thought or plan
full of one's own concerns
full of oneself
8
: having a rich quality
a full voice
fullness
noun
full
2 of 3 adverb1
a
: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely
knew full well who they were
b
: all the way : entirely
filled full
2
: smack entry 5, squarely
was hit full in the face
full
3 of 3 noun
: the highest state, extent, or degree
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