fully
fully
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "fully" is /ˈfʊli/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ful-: /fʊl/
/f/: voiceless labiodental fricative
/ʊ/: near-close near-back rounded vowel
/l/: alveolar lateral approximant
-ly: /li/
/l/: alveolar lateral approximant
/i/: close front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
"Fully" is an adverb. Adverbs generally do not have singular/plural forms, or variations like verb conjugations (e.g., past tense, present participle). Its form remains consistent.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Fully
Definition: To the greatest extent or degree; completely or entirely.
Synonyms: Completely, entirely, wholly, totally, utterly, perfectly, absolutely.
Antonyms: Partially, partly, incompletely, scarcely, hardly.
Definition: Containing or including all that is necessary or required; in a thorough or comprehensive manner.
Synonyms: Thoroughly, comprehensively, exhaustively, extensively, adequately, sufficiently.
Antonyms: Superficially, inadequately, insufficiently.
Definition: With full knowledge or understanding; without reservation or doubt.
Synonyms: Unreservedly, wholeheartedly, sincerely, genuinely, assuredly, confidently.
Antonyms: Hesitantly, reluctantly, doubtfully.
Examples of Use
Books: "The character of Sherlock Holmes is so fully realized that he feels like a real person to many readers." (From a literary analysis of Arthur Conan Doyle's works)
Newspapers: "The new city park project is expected to be fully funded by the end of the fiscal year." (From The Daily Gazette, June 2024)
Online Publications: "Before attempting this advanced recipe, ensure you have fully read all the instructions." (From a cooking blog, "TasteBuds Kitchen," October 2023)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Review: "While the special effects are stunning, the plot never fully engages the audience." (From a film review on Rotten Tomatoes, November 2023)
Podcast: "We need to fully understand the implications of this new technology before we deploy it on a wide scale." (From "Tech Talk Daily" podcast, January 2025)
Video Game Dialogue: "You haven't fully explored the ancient ruins until you've found all the hidden artifacts." (In-game dialogue from "Chronicles of Eldoria," September 2022)
Song Lyrics: "My heart is fully open, ready for what's to come." (From a popular song, "New Horizons," March 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"I haven't fully recovered from that cold yet, I still have a cough."
"The team needs to be fully committed if we want to win the championship."
"Are you fully aware of the risks involved in this investment?"
"The restaurant was fully booked for Valentine's Day."
10 Quotes Using Fully
"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be fully loved for what you are not." (André Gide)
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." (Robert F. Kennedy - often misquoted, but the essence aligns with being fully committed)
"To be fully alive, fully human, and fully interested is to risk being fully broken." (Parker J. Palmer)
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be." (Kurt Vonnegut - the implication being to fully embrace your identity)
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you." (Lao Tzu - the idea of being fully at peace with oneself)
"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." (Buddha - implying the need to fully embrace self-love)
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." (Louisa May Alcott - often interpreted as becoming fully capable)
"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." (Stephen King - suggesting you must fully immerse yourself)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." (Steve Jobs - indicating the need to be fully passionate)
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." (Eleanor Roosevelt - implying a need to fully believe)
Etymology
The word "fully" has a clear and straightforward origin in the English language.
It comes from Old English, specifically from the word "fullīċe". This Old English word was formed by combining two parts:
"ful": This meant "full" in the sense of being complete, entire, or abundant.
"-līċe": This was an Old English suffix that was used to turn adjectives into adverbs, giving the meaning "in a... manner" or "like a...". It's the ancestor of our modern "-ly" suffix.
So, when you put them together, "fullīċe" literally meant "in a full manner" or "completely."
The first known use and meaning of "fully" (or its Old English ancestor) was exactly that: "entirely, perfectly, completely," or "in a full measure." It has maintained this core meaning throughout its history, from Old English through Middle English and into Modern English.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fully
Fully aware: To have complete knowledge or understanding of something.
Fully booked/scheduled: To have no more availability for appointments, reservations, or events.
Fully developed: To have reached a complete state of growth, maturity, or elaboration.
Fully grown: To have reached adult size or maturity.
Fully integrated: To be completely incorporated into a larger system or group.
Fully loaded: (informal) Equipped with all possible features or options.
Fully committed: To be entirely dedicated or pledged to something.
Fully justified: To be completely warranted or defensible.
Fully prepared: To be completely ready for an event or situation.
Fully operational: To be working completely and correctly.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fully from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
