fully

Etymology

From Middle English fully, fulliche, volliche, from Old English fullīċe (“fully”), equivalent to full +‎ -ly. Compare German völlig (“fully”), Swedish fullt (“fully”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʊli/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʊli

Adverb

fully (comparative fullier or more fully, superlative fulliest or most fully)

1. In a full manner; without lack or defect.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess‎:

     As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.

   He fully met his responsibilities.

2. In a full degree; to a full extent.
   • 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page 7

     The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule.

   He is fully capable of meeting his responsibilities.

3. As a minimum; at least.
   • 2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times‎:

     In polling by the Pew Research Center in November 2008, fully half the respondents thought the two parties would cooperate more in the coming year, versus only 36 percent who thought the climate would grow more adversarial.