Complete vs. Full — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
"Complete" means having all necessary parts, elements, or steps finished, while "Full" refers to something that is filled to its utmost capacity or extent.
Difference Between Complete and Full
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Complete" denotes the state of something that has been finished without anything missing or lacking. On the other hand, "Full" describes the state of an object or space that can hold no more, being at its maximum capacity.
While "Complete" often indicates the culmination of a process or task, "Full" frequently implies a limit in terms of space or volume. For example, a task can be complete, but a glass can be full.
In many scenarios, "Complete" serves as an indicator of quality or comprehensiveness. For instance, a "complete meal" suggests a well-balanced diet. In contrast, "Full" is more quantitative, referring to the amount; a "full meal" might mean one's plate or stomach is filled to satisfaction.
It's possible for something to be "Full" without being "Complete." For instance, a puzzle box might be full of pieces, but the puzzle itself isn't complete until it's solved and assembled.
Both words can be used metaphorically. One might feel "Complete" when finding a purpose in life, while feeling "Full" could mean feeling satisfied or overwhelmed with emotions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Finished with all parts, elements, or steps
Filled to utmost capacity or extent
Usage
Process, tasks, qualitative
Quantity, space, volume
Context
Something without anything missing or lacking
An object or space that can hold no more
Possible States
Can be either complete or incomplete
Can be either full, half-full, or empty
Metaphorical Use
Achieving a sense of wholeness or purpose
Feeling satisfied or overwhelmed with emotions
Compare with Definitions
Complete
Finished with all its parts.
The bridge construction is now complete.
Full
Not lacking in any essential.
She led a full life.
Complete
Absolute or unqualified.
She has complete trust in him.
Full
Having a great extent or amount.
The moon is full tonight.
Complete
To make whole or perfect.
The second volume completes the set.
Full
Containing or holding as much or as many as possible; having no empty space
Waste bins full of rubbish
The hotel is full up
She could only nod, for her mouth was full
Complete
Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire
A complete medical history.
A complete set of dishes.
Full
Not lacking or omitting anything; complete
A full range of sports facilities
Complete
(Botany) Having all principal parts, namely, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil or pistils. Used of a flower.
Full
(of a person's figure or part of the body) plump or rounded
The fuller figure
She had full lips
Complete
Having come to an end; concluded
The renovation of the kitchen is complete.
Full
Straight; directly
She turned her head and looked full into his face
Complete
Absolute; thorough
Complete control.
A complete mystery.
Full
Very
He knew full well she was too polite to barge in
Complete
Accomplished; consummate
A complete musician.
Full
The period, point, or state of the greatest fullness or strength.
Complete
(Football) Caught in bounds by a receiver
A complete pass.
Full
Make (something) full; fill up
He full up the house with bawling
Complete
To bring to a finish or an end
She has completed her studies.
Full
Gather or pleat (fabric) so as to make a garment full
A straight piece fulled into a small band at the top
Complete
To make whole, with all necessary elements or parts
A second child would complete their family. Fill in the blanks to complete the form.
Full
(of the moon or tide) become full
Fulling moon aloft doth ride
Complete
(Football) To throw (a forward pass) that is caught in bounds by a receiver.
Full
Clean, shrink, and felt (cloth) by heat, pressure, and moisture
Weaving and fulling were all formerly part of the normal domestic scene
Complete
(ambitransitive) To finish; to make done; to reach the end.
He completed the assignment on time.
Full
Containing all that is normal or possible
A full pail.
Complete
(transitive) To make whole or entire.
The last chapter completes the book nicely.
Full
Complete in every particular
A full account.
Complete
(poker) To call from the small blind in an unraised pot.
Full
Amounting to three balls and two strikes. Used of a count.
Complete
With all parts included; with nothing missing; full.
My life will be complete once I buy this new television.
She offered me complete control of the project.
After she found the rook, the chess set was complete.
Full
Having a base runner at first, second, and third base
The bases were full when the slugger stepped up to bat.
Complete
Finished; ended; concluded; completed.
When your homework is complete, you can go and play with Martin.
Full
Of maximum or highest degree
At full speed.
Complete
Generic intensifier.
He is a complete bastard!
It was a complete shock when he turned up on my doorstep.
Our vacation was a complete disaster.
Full
Being at the peak of development or maturity
In full bloom.
Complete
In which every Cauchy sequence converges to a point within the space.
Full
Of or relating to a full moon.
Complete
In which every set with a lower bound has a greatest lower bound.
Full
Having a great deal or many
A book full of errors.
Complete
In which all small limits exist.
Full
Totally qualified, accepted, or empowered
A full member of the club.
Complete
In which every semantically valid well-formed formula is provable.
Full
Rounded in shape; plump
A full figure.
Complete
That is in a given complexity class and is such that every other problem in the class can be reduced to it (usually in polynomial time or logarithmic space).
Full
Having or made with a generous amount of fabric
Full draperies.
Complete
Filled up; with no part or element lacking; free from deficiency; entire; perfect; consummate.
Ye are complete in him.
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steelRevisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon.
Full
Having an appetite completely satisfied, especially for food or drink
Was full after the Thanksgiving dinner.
Complete
Finished; ended; concluded; completed; as, the edifice is complete.
This course of vanity almost complete.
Full
Providing an abundance, especially of food.
Complete
Having all the parts or organs which belong to it or to the typical form; having calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil.
Full
Having depth and body; rich
A full aroma.
Full tones.
Complete
To bring to a state in which there is no deficiency; to perfect; to consummate; to accomplish; to fulfill; to finish; as, to complete a task, or a poem; to complete a course of education.
Bred only and completed to the tasteOf lustful appetence.
And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate.
Full
Completely absorbed or preoccupied
“He was already pretty full of himself” (Ron Rosenbaum).
Complete
Come or bring to a finish or an end;
He finished the dishes
She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree
The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours
Full
Possessing both parents in common
Full brothers.
Full sisters.
Complete
Bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements;
A child would complete the family
Full
Of or relating to a full-size bed
Full sheets.
A full bed skirt.
Complete
Complete or carry out;
Discharge one's duties
Full
Exactly; directly
Full in the path of the moon.
Complete
Complete a pass
Full
To a complete extent; entirely. Sometimes used in combination
Knew full well.
Full blown.
Full-fledged.
Complete
Write all the required information onto a form;
Fill out this questionnaire, please!
Make out a form
Full
To make (a garment) full, as by pleating or gathering.
Complete
Having every necessary or normal part or component or step;
A complete meal
A complete wardrobe
A complete set pf the Britannica
A complete set of china
A complete defeat
A complete accounting
An incomplete flower
Full
To become full. Used of the moon.
Complete
Perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities;
A complete gentleman
Consummate happiness
A consummate performance
Full
To increase the density and usually the thickness of (cloth) by shrinking and beating or pressing.
Complete
Having all four whorls or principal parts--sepals and petals and stamens and carpels (or pistils);
Complete flowers
Full
The maximum or complete size or amount
Repaid in full.
Complete
Highly skilled;
An accomplished pianist
A complete musician
Full
The highest degree or state
Living life to the full.
Complete
Without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers;
An arrant fool
A complete coward
A consummate fool
A double-dyed villain
Gross negligence
A perfect idiot
Pure folly
What a sodding mess
Stark staring mad
A thoroughgoing villain
Utter nonsense
Full
A full-size bed.
Complete
Having come or been brought to a conclusion;
The harvesting was complete
The affair is over, ended, finished
The abruptly terminated interview
Full
Containing the maximum possible amount that can fit in the space available.
The jugs were full to the point of overflowing.
Complete
Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps.
The book offers a complete guide to baking.
Full
Complete; with nothing omitted.
Our book gives full treatment to the subject of angling.
Complete
To bring to a finished state.
He completed the assignment on time.
Full
Total, entire.
She had tattoos the full length of her arms.
He was prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Full
Completely empowered, authorized or qualified (in some role); not limited.
Full member
Full officer
Full
(informal) Having eaten to satisfaction, having a "full" stomach; replete.
"I'm full," he said, pushing back from the table.
Full
Replete, abounding with.
This movie doesn't make sense; it's full of plot holes.
I prefer my pizzas full of toppings.
Full
(of physical features) Plump, round.
Full lips; a full face; a full figure
Full
(of the moon) Having its entire face illuminated.
Full
(of garments) Of a size that is ample, wide, or having ample folds or pleats to be comfortable.
A full pleated skirt;
She needed her full clothing during her pregnancy.
Full
Having depth and body; rich.
A full singing voice
Full
(obsolete) Having the mind filled with ideas; stocked with knowledge; stored with information.
Full
Having the attention, thoughts, etc., absorbed in any matter, and the feelings more or less excited by it.
She's full of her latest project.
Full
Filled with emotions.
Full
(obsolete) Impregnated; made pregnant.
Full
Said of the three cards of the same rank in a full house.
Full
Drunk, intoxicated.
Full
(archaic) Fully; quite; very; thoroughly; completely; exactly; entirely.
Full
Utmost measure or extent; highest state or degree; the state, position, or moment of fullness; fill.
I was fed to the full.
Full
(of the moon) The phase of the moon when its entire face is illuminated, full moon.
Full
(freestyle skiing) An aerialist maneuver consisting of a backflip in conjunction and simultaneous with a complete twist.
Full
(of the moon) To become full or wholly illuminated.
Full
(transitive) To baptise.
Full
To make cloth denser and firmer by soaking, beating and pressing; to waulk or walk.
Full
Filled up, having within its limits all that it can contain; supplied; not empty or vacant; - said primarily of hollow vessels, and hence of anything else; as, a cup full of water; a house full of people.
Had the throne been full, their meeting would not have been regular.
Full
Abundantly furnished or provided; sufficient in quantity, quality, or degree; copious; plenteous; ample; adequate; as, a full meal; a full supply; a full voice; a full compensation; a house full of furniture.
Full
Not wanting in any essential quality; complete; entire; perfect; adequate; as, a full narrative; a person of full age; a full stop; a full face; the full moon.
It came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaohdreamed.
The man commandsLike a full soldier.
I can notRequest a fuller satisfactionThan you have freely granted.
Full
Sated; surfeited.
I am full of the burnt offerings of rams.
Full
Having the mind filled with ideas; stocked with knowledge; stored with information.
Reading maketh a full man.
Full
Having the attention, thoughts, etc., absorbed in any matter, and the feelings more or less excited by it, as, to be full of some project.
Every one is full of the miracles done by cold baths on decayed and weak constitutions.
Full
Filled with emotions.
The heart is so full that a drop overfills it.
Full
Impregnated; made pregnant.
Ilia, the fair, . . . full of Mars.
Full
Complete measure; utmost extent; the highest state or degree.
The swan's-down feather,That stands upon the swell at full of tide.
Full
Quite; to the same degree; without abatement or diminution; with the whole force or effect; thoroughly; completely; exactly; entirely.
The pawn I proffer shall be full as good.
The diapason closing full in man.
Full in the center of the sacred wood.
Full
To become full or wholly illuminated; as, the moon fulls at midnight.
Full
To thicken by moistening, heating, and pressing, as cloth; to mill; to make compact; to scour, cleanse, and thicken in a mill.
Full
To become fulled or thickened; as, this material fulls well.
Full
Beat for the purpose of cleaning and thickening;
Full the cloth
Full
Make (a garment) fuller by pleating or gathering
Full
Increase in phase;
The moon is waxing
Full
Containing as much or as many as is possible or normal;
A full glass
A sky full of stars
A full life
The auditorium was full to overflowing
Full
Constituting the full quantity or extent; complete;
An entire town devastated by an earthquake
Gave full attention
A total failure
Full
Complete in extent or degree and in every particular;
A full game
A total eclipse
A total disaster
Full
Filled to satisfaction with food or drink;
A full stomach
Full
(of sound) having marked depth and body;
Full tones
A full voice
Full
Having the normally expected amount;
Gives full measure
Gives good measure
A good mile from here
Full
Being at a peak or culminating point;
Broad day
Full summer
High noon
Full
Not separated into parts or shares; constituting an undivided unit;
An undivided interest in the property
A full share
Full
Having ample fabric;
The current taste for wide trousers
A full skirt
Full
To the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (`full' in this sense is used as a combining form);
Fully grown
He didn't fully understand
Knew full well
Full-grown
Full-fledged
Full
Containing as much as possible.
The jar is full of cookies.
Full
Being at the maximum.
The theater is full, no seats left.
Full
Fully occupied by what is specified.
She's full of energy.
Common Curiosities
How is "Full" used to describe quantity?
"Full" denotes that something is filled to its maximum capacity.
How does "Complete" differ from "Finish"?
"Complete" emphasizes having all parts, while "Finish" emphasizes the end of a process.
What does it mean when a class is "Full"?
It means no more students can enroll because it's at its capacity.
What does "Complete" mean in terms of a task?
It means the task has been finished without anything missing or lacking.
Can an album be "Complete"?
Yes, if it has all its intended tracks, it's a complete album.
What's a "Full house" in poker?
It's a hand with three cards of one rank and two of another.
What does "Full speed" mean?
It means moving at the maximum speed possible.
Can a person feel "Complete"?
Yes, it can mean feeling whole or finding a sense of purpose.
What's a "Complete sentence"?
A sentence that has a subject, verb, and expresses a complete thought.
Can a room be "Full" of emotions?
Yes, metaphorically, it means the atmosphere is charged with strong emotions.
Can something be "Full" but not "Complete"?
Yes, like a puzzle box full of pieces, but the puzzle isn't assembled.
If a bottle is filled with water, is it "Full"?
Yes, if it's filled to its utmost capacity, it's full.
Can a movie be "Complete"?
Yes, if it includes all intended scenes and elements.
Does "Complete" imply perfection?
Not necessarily, it indicates something is whole, but not necessarily perfect.
How is "Full" used in terms of the moon?
A "full moon" means the moon appears as a complete circle from Earth.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
