Word
fully
Phoneticsful·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfʊɫi/
UK/fˈʊli/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01completely
B1 · Intermediate
adv. completely or entirely, leaving nothing out.
adv. to the maximum extent or degree; entirely.
“I fully understand the situation and I am ready to help.”
“The board of directors fully supports the CEO's decision to expand into the Asian market despite the current economic climate.”
Usage
Usually placed before a verb or an adjective.
Synonyms
02at least
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to emphasize that a number or amount is large.
adv. used as an intensifier before a numerical value to emphasize its magnitude.
日本語:たっぷり※
“It took fully three hours to finish the exam.”
“The restoration project took fully six months longer than the contractors had originally estimated in their proposal.”
Usage
Always placed immediately before the number or quantity it modifies.
Synonyms
03really or totally
C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang
adv. used to show that you strongly agree or to make a word stronger.
adv. used as a general intensifier to emphasize the truth or intensity of a statement.
“That movie was fully sick.”
“I was fully expecting him to be angry, but he was actually quite calm about the whole mistake.”
Teaching tip
This usage is very common in Australian and New Zealand English as a way to say 'definitely' or 'totally'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fully” in context.
Verb
01. fully describe
“The witness was unable to fully describe the suspect's appearance to the police.”
adv + verb
02. fully develop
“It takes several years for the brain to fully develop in young adults.”
adv + verb
03. fully discuss
“We need to meet again to fully discuss the implications of the new policy.”
adv + verb
04. fully explore
“The researchers intend to fully explore all possible causes of the disease.”
adv + verb
05. fully understand
06. fully automated
07. fully aware
08. fully compliant
09. fully explain
10. fully explained
11. fully integrated
12. fully understood
Real-World Examples
“The public university has about 5,700 students and was the first fully state-supported four-year college for black Americans.” “Both are fully fit for the new season.” Etymology
From Middle English fully, fulliche, volliche, from Old English fullīċe (“fully”), equivalent to full + -ly. Compare German völlig (“fully”), Swedish fullt (“fully”).
A reference to the phrase "the prisoner was fully committed for trial".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
01. fully rigged
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/fully
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0