full
full
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "full" is: /fʊl/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
f: /f/ (voiceless labiodental fricative) - This is the sound made by pressing your upper teeth lightly on your lower lip and blowing air out.
ʊ: /ʊ/ (near-close near-front rounded vowel) - This is the vowel sound in words like "good" or "book." It's a short, high-mid vowel.
l: /l/ (alveolar lateral approximant) - This is the sound made by placing the tip of your tongue on the alveolar ridge (the bumpy part behind your upper teeth) and letting air flow out the sides of your tongue.
Word Form Variations
full (adjective): This is the base form, meaning containing or holding as much as possible; complete. Example: "The glass is full."
full (noun): This is less common but can refer to the fullest extent or degree. Example: "He enjoyed life to the full."
full (verb): This is also less common, meaning to thicken (cloth) by shrinking and beating it. It's related to the word "fuller." Example: "They full the cloth." (This usage is somewhat archaic.)
fuller (noun): A person who fulls cloth.
fullest (adjective): The superlative form of "full." Example: "This is the fullest glass I've ever seen."
fully (adverb): Completely; entirely. Example: "The glass is fully filled."
It's important to note that "full" doesn't have a typical plural form like many nouns because it's most often used as an adjective. You wouldn't say "fulls" in the same way you'd say "cups" for multiple cups.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition: Containing or holding as much as possible; complete; abundant.
Synonyms: replete, complete, abundant, overflowing, packed, crammed, saturated, comprehensive
Antonyms: empty, vacant, incomplete, lacking, deficient, sparse, hollow
Example: The stadium was full of cheering fans.
Noun:
Definition: The utmost extent or degree; the state of being completely filled. (Less common usage)
Synonyms: completeness, entirety, maximum, fullness, saturation
Antonyms: emptiness, void, lack, incompleteness
Example: He lived life to the full.
Verb:
Definition: To thicken (cloth) by shrinking and beating it; to make or become full. (Archaic usage relating to textiles)
Synonyms: thicken, shrink, compress, condense, pack (in the sense of filling)
Antonyms: expand, stretch, loosen, empty
Example: The fuller worked diligently on the wool. (referring to the person who fulls cloth)
Adverb:
Definition: Completely; entirely; thoroughly.
Synonyms: completely, entirely, totally, thoroughly, wholly, absolutely, perfectly
Antonyms: partially, incompletely, slightly, somewhat, barely, scarcely
Example: The glass was fully filled.
Noun (Person):
Definition: A person who fulls cloth.
Synonyms: cloth thickener, textile worker
Antonyms: (Difficult to find a direct antonym, perhaps someone who works with raw materials)
Example: The fuller examined the finished fabric.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The room was full of smoke." (No specific book, this is a common sentence structure found in countless novels and stories.)
"He had a full life, filled with adventure and love." (Again, a common trope, demonstrating the adjectival use of "full.")
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Hospitals are full as flu cases rise." (News article headline - demonstrating the adjective "full" describing capacity.) (Hypothetical example, but reflects real-world reporting.)
"The stadium was full to capacity for the championship game." (Sports report - adjective "full" describing occupancy.) (Hypothetical but representative.)
"She gave the recipe fully and accurately." (Online food blog - adverb "fully" modifying the verb "gave.") (Hypothetical, but reflective of common usage.)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The theater was full for the opening night performance." (Theater review - adjective "full" describing attendance.) (Hypothetical, but a typical usage.)
"My heart is full of joy." (Song lyric - adjective "full" expressing emotion.) (Common lyrical expression.)
"Full House" (Television show title - using "full" as part of a proper noun.)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm so full after that meal!" (Spoken conversation - adjective "full" describing physical state.) (Extremely common.)
"That's a full explanation." (Spoken conversation - adjective "full" describing thoroughness.) (Common usage.)
"He gave it his full attention." (Spoken/written communication - adjective "full" describing extent of focus.) (Common usage.)
"The moon was full." (Spoken/written communication - adjective "full" describing a celestial state.) (Very common usage.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Full
"The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." — Bertrand Russell
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Security is mostly a superstition… Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Life is full of meaning when we dare." — Helen Keller
"My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is called content, a crown it is that seldom kings enjoy, full often when they seem." — William Shakespeare
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart, and the heart is full of love." — Helen Keller
"The earth is full of music for those who will listen." — George Santayana
"Life is full of surprises, some of which are better if you don’t know about them beforehand." — Charles Dickens
"We are full of faults, and yet we take pleasure in them; we are full of folly, and yet we are proud of it." — Blaise Pascal
"The world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming." — Helen Keller
"Each day is full of opportunities to grow, but also full of temptations to stay the same." — Paulo Coelho
"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces." — Ashley Smith
Etymology
The word "full" comes from Old English full, which meant "filled, abundant, complete." This Old English word itself came from an even older source, Proto-Germanic *fullaz. Think of Proto-Germanic as a sort of ancestor language to many languages spoken in Europe today, including English, German, and Dutch.
The earliest known use of "full" (or rather, its ancestor fullaz) was likely related to the idea of something being filled to its maximum capacity. Imagine a container brimming with liquid or a stomach completely satisfied with food. That core idea of "completeness" or "abundance" has stayed with the word throughout its history.
So, tracing it back, the path looks like this:
Proto-Germanic: fullaz (filled, abundant)
Old English: full (filled, abundant, complete)
English: full (as we use it today)
Over time, the word "full" has branched out to have slightly different shades of meaning (like "full of joy," "fully booked," or "full moon"), but the underlying concept of "completeness" or "abundance" is always present. It's a very old word with a simple, direct meaning that has remained remarkably consistent over the centuries.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Full
Common Phrases and Idioms:
Full of: (e.g., "full of joy," "full of energy," "full of hot air") This is a very common construction, expressing the idea of being filled with something.
Full of it: (Meaning someone is being dishonest or exaggerating.)
Full house: (In poker, a specific hand; also, a place that is completely occupied.)
Full moon: (The lunar phase when the entire face of the moon is illuminated.)
Full circle: (Returning to the original point or state.)
Full steam ahead: (To proceed with maximum effort or speed.)
In full swing: (At the peak of activity.)
To the full: (Completely, entirely.)
Full stop: (A punctuation mark; also, a complete end to something.)
Full-fledged: (Fully developed or qualified.)
Less Common or Original Phrases:
"My heart is full to bursting." (Expressing an overwhelming feeling.)
"A mind full of dreams." (Describing someone imaginative.)
"The day was full of promise." (Expressing optimism about the future.)
Phrases Using Synonyms (for a similar effect):
"Brimming with confidence" (Similar to "full of confidence")
"Overflowing with happiness" (Similar to "full of happiness")
"Packed with people" (Similar to "full of people")
"Saturated with color" (Similar to "full of color")
Why "Full" Isn't as Idiomatic:
The word "full" is primarily descriptive. It denotes a state of being filled or complete. While it can be used metaphorically (like "full of joy"), it doesn't lend itself to as many figurative and idiomatic expressions as words related to actions or more abstract concepts. Its core meaning is quite literal, which limits its use in highly figurative language.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of full from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
