From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfullfull1 /fʊl/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 no spaceFULL containing as much or as many things or people as possible, so there is no space left → empty The train was completely full. Don’t talk with your mouth full. The class is full, but you can register for next term.full of The kitchen was full of smoke.be crammed/stuffed/packed etc full of something Ted’s workshop was crammed full of old engines.half-full/three-quarters full etc McQuaid filled his glass until it was three-quarters full. The bath was full to the brim (=completely full) with hot water.full (up) to bursting British English informal (=completely full) The filing cabinet was full to bursting.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say that a place is packed when it is full of people:The trains are always packed in the rush hour. 2 including everything [only before noun]COMPLETE complete and including all parts or details Please write your full name and address on the form. The Health Centre offers a full range of services. Lotus will not reveal full details until the Motor Show. The BBC promised a full investigation. I don’t think he’s telling us the full story (=everything he knows about the matter).3 highest amount/level [only before noun] the greatest amount or highest level of something that is possible SYN maximum rising prosperity and full employment The charity helps disabled children reach their full potential. Few customers take full advantage of off-peak fares. Parker was driving at full speed when he hit the wall.in full leaf/bloom The roses were now in full bloom.4 → be full of something5 food (also full up British English) [not before noun]FULL having eaten so much food that you cannot eat any more No more, thanks. I’m full.6 emphasis [only before noun] used to emphasize an amount, quantity, or ratethree/six etc full days/years/pages etc We devote five full days a month to training. His pants rose a full three inches off his shoes. 7 busy busy and involving lots of different activities Before her illness, Rose enjoyed a full life. Go to bed. You’ve a full day tomorrow.8 rank having or giving all the rights, duties etc that belong to a particular rank or positionfull professor/member/colonel etc Only full members have the right to vote. a full driving licence9 → be full of yourself10 → be full of crap/shit/it11 clothesDCC made using a lot of material and fitting loosely a dress with a full skirt12 body large and rounded in an attractive wayfull figure/face/breasts etc clothes for the fuller figure13 taste having a strong satisfying taste Now you can enjoy Nescafé's fuller flavour in a decaffeinated form. → full-bodied14 soundLOUD/NOISY pleasantly loud and deep the rich full sound of the cello 15 → full price16 → in full view of somebody17 → be in full swing18 → full speed/steam ahead19 → be full of beans20 → (at) full blast21 → (at) full tilt/pelt22 → be in full cry23 → to the full24 → come/go/turn full circle → fully, → have your hands full at hand1(29), → draw yourself up to your full height at draw upTHESAURUSfull containing as much or as many things or people as possible, so there is no space leftThe train was nearly full.The cupboard was full of clothes.He spilled a full cup of coffee on the carpet.filled with something full of something – use this about a container when a lot of things have been put into itThe envelopes were filled with cash.stuffed full of something completely full of something – use this about a container when lots of things have been put into it, often in an untidy wayThe case was stuffed full of clothes.packed completely full of people – use this about a room, train etca packed restaurantThe courtroom will be packed with journalists.bursting (with something) extremely full of somethingHer wardrobe was bursting with coats and shoes.a small garden bursting with fruit and flowerscrammed so full that you cannot fit anyone or anything else in – often used when you think there are too many people or thingsIn summer, the hotels are crammed with tourists.The resort’s crammed beaches are uncomfortable in summer.teeming (with something) /ˈtiːmɪŋ/ full of people, animals etc that are all moving aroundThe rivers are teeming with fish.overflowing used about a container that is so full that the liquid or things inside it come out over the topan overflowing bathtubThe drawers were overflowing with magazines.overloaded used about a vehicle or a ship which has too many people or things in itan overloaded fishing boatThe trucks are often grossly overloaded (=far too overloaded).
Examples from the Corpus
full• All the parking spaces were full.• Sidney got married in full army uniform.• a full bottle of milk• a full box of cereal• A black necklace hung down over her full breasts.• Salcido gave a full confession to the police.• Connors made a full confession to the police.• Baseball attendance is much less likely to be a full day event.• He sat on the witness stand for four full days.• Full details of the travel arrangements will be published as soon as possible.• After decades of nearly full employment, about 3000 local residents lost their jobs when the factory closed.• The lecture hall was full for MacGowan's talk.• To pave the way, Roosevelt promoted Stilwell to full general.• Please write your full name and address at the top of the form.• The buses were full of people going to work.• Helsinki was full of pious declarations about the inviolability of borders and non-interference in internal affairs.• The room is full of smoke: nicotine has become the ambient atmosphere.• Your tank has certainly reached its limits now, and some of the fish have yet to reach their full potential.• Joanna's full red lips were fixed in an inviting smile.• David wants a full report of the accident first thing in the morning.• She wanted a full report on the boy.• Cheddar cheese ages well to produce a full, rich aroma.• full sleeves• The atlas contains full statistical descriptions of each country.• But despite that, Gloucestershire County Council still can't find another school that will accept him as a full time student.• I've had a full week. I'm looking forward to staying home tonight.• The restaurant was already full when we got there.be crammed/stuffed/packed etc full of something• It was crammed full of good ideas which you couldn't sensibly argue with, but they had been turned upside down.• But the effect seemed diluted as he then toured the docks' cold store which was stuffed full of apples.• This beautiful little fishing town is packed full of narrow winding cobbled streets and colourful terraced houses.• One section is stuffed full of reviewer's copies of the latest best-sellers.• This final line-up was packed full of skilled musicians, each of whom had his own musical statement to make.• These are stuffed full of technical slang about the plane your flying and the sort of weapons it uses.• Windows is stuffed full of things you have to configure or change before you can set up a printer, for example.• The crevice, upon further examination, was found to be stuffed full of yellowing incisors and weathered molars.full name• It occurred to Oswald that everyone called the prisoner by his full name.• The reason for the full name and address?• For companies you need their full name, country of registration and registration number.• My full name is Fenton Robert Marshall.• Madonna, whose full name is Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, has resisted testifying in this case for some time.• You know what my full name is?• At the very least, the full name of the first individual should fit on the first line.full employment• The party was looking at full employment and a committee reported on the question in January 1944.• After 1951 Winston Churchill and his Conservative successors protected the welfare state, maintained full employment, and conciliated the trade unions.• It is this extra spending which, given full employment and consequent constant number of transactions, pushes up the price level.• The contribution of this to full employment is obvious, particularly at times when demand in the economy is generally low.• Given sufficient time with other things remaining unchanged, prices and wages would eventually be adjusted and full employment may be restored.• The role of Churchill in the development of full employment policy is greater than has generally been supposed.• That sounds like motherhood and apple pie until we examine what full employment really means.• The concept of altering demand to remain at full employment was one he did not find it difficult to grasp.three/six etc full days/years/pages etc• About half the schools surveyed in 1968 succeeded in maintaining this policy for three full years.• On the other hand, he was three full years out of the training program and no longer constrained by the band.• Last year it took them three full days to clear the stable and make a heap of the black peat-like mal outside.a full life• Perhaps if my parents had not died so early, I might have been able to live a full life.• The spiritual riches of a full life are kept from the sufferer while the therapist colludes with the addictive disease itself.• Surely, a full life even for some one who lived to the advance age of 92.• Such openings can lead to a fuller life if the athlete surrenders to what is happening.• I would so like to see Alida lead a fuller life, less anxious and restrained.• And because they've been given a tantalising series of glimpses of a fuller life, they're aware and starving.• He had a full life with his wife and three children.full professor/member/colonel etc• A player must serve a minimum of 12 consecutive months before becoming a full member.• Harris rose to the position of full professor at York in 1971.• Even if she manages to get through her first probationary year, life is not an easy ride for full members either.• The Berlin members were not full members in that they did not have voting powers.• The central committee was enlarged from 124 to 146 full members; no alternate members were elected.• Data on social background of central committee full members was collected on WordPerfect and Paradox databases.• A squad of full colonels was halted near Billy.full figure/face/breasts etc• She had dancing eyes and a full figure.• Police picture, Lenin, full face and profile.• The cost for this beauty fix-a full face of laser resurfacing-runs $ 4,500.• Before he developed his wrap around technique a full figure took 18 months to make.• Nadine turned full face towards Becky. ` Well, Becky.• So this time round, the bank's denials have not been taken at full face value.• Machungo said that he was confident that growth had continued in 1989, although full figures were not yet available.• A cell that will respond to somebody in full face will fail to respond to the same person in profile.fuller flavour• Nowadays, Lancashire cheese is kept for three months, so it has a slightly fuller flavour.• The Flavia is a small tomato, which is left on the vine longer to develop a fuller flavour.fullfull2 noun → in fullfullfull3 adverb EXACTdirectlyfull on/in She looked him full in the face as she spoke.Examples from the Corpus
full• Schatz pledged that the parents would be fully informed of the inquiry's findings.• The airline says the complaints will be fully investigated.• They know full well that Joe Biden and other newly empowered Democrats share their doubts on missile defence.• Oh, I glory in inconsistencies, as you know full well.full on/in• The engine cut out but the headlights remained full on.• Cabernet Sauvignon has a darker color, is usually fuller in body and generally ages longer than Pinot Noir.• The bright April sun was full in her eyes and she shaded them with one hand.• Peter had his hands full in Majorca, too.• The glass is always half full in our land of optimists.• The other jeeps pulled up and drove alongside Lampard, all their headlights full on, searching for aircraft.• It was clinical white with a spotless red carpet, and full on Sundays.• The door struck me full in the face.• He kissed me full on the mouth, one hand at my back, the other straying to my behind.Origin full1 Old English 