WordGarden.iofull-time
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈʊltˌaɪm/
US
- /ˈfʊlˌtaɪm/
Meanings
Adjective
working, studying, or scheduled for the full normal amount of time
taking up nearly all of someone's available time or attention
Adverb
for the full normal working or study schedule
Beyond the definition
"Full-time" usually refers to work that takes up the standard number of hours in a normal workweek, often around 35 to 40 hours. If someone has a full-time job, that job is their main work, not something they do only for a few hours here and there. The phrase can also be used outside employment. A full-time student spends most of their time on classes and study, and a full-time parent gives most of their day to caring for children. In each case, it suggests that this is the person's main focus, not a part-time activity.
The term "full-time" usually means spending the normal working week on one main activity. Most often, it is used for employment. A person with a full-time job usually works a set schedule of about 35 to 40 hours a week, though the exact number can vary by country, company, or field. In many workplaces, full-time employees may also receive benefits such as health insurance, paid vacation, or sick leave. When a company advertises a full-time position, it usually means they want someone for a regular, ongoing role rather than a small, temporary, or seasonal one.
However, "full-time" is not limited to jobs. A full-time student takes enough classes for study to be their main daily activity. A parent might also describe themselves as a full-time mom or full-time dad, meaning that caring for children and managing the home take up most of their time. The phrase can also appear with other activities, as in "She now writes full-time," which means writing has become her main work.
The key idea behind "full-time" is that something takes up most of a person's working or active hours. It contrasts with "part-time," which means fewer hours and usually less of a person's schedule. For example, someone might work part-time at a cafe while studying full-time at college, or leave an office job to make music full-time. Whether the phrase is about a job, education, parenting, or another main activity, it describes something that fills most of a person's regular time and stands at the center of their daily life.
Examples
- 1
Employment
She finally got a full-time job after months of temporary work.
- 2
Student status
He's a full-time student, so he only works on weekends.
- 3
Career change
After her online shop started doing well, she decided to go full-time.
- Phrasego full-time
start doing it as your main job, not just on the side
- 4
Work hours
The company cut several employees from full-time to part-time.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Caregiving
She cares for her father full-time now, so she can't travel much.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- full-timeadjectiveadverb