Meaning & use
stuffed full
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Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformal
Completely filled with something, often so that no space is left.
Grammar: Usually followed by 'of': stuffed full of papers.
Patterns
- stuffed full of something
The drawer was stuffed full of old receipts and takeaway menus.
Her backpack was stuffed full of clothes for the weekend trip.
The turkey was stuffed full of bread, onions, and herbs.
phraseafter a verbinformal
Having eaten so much that you feel completely full.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like 'be' or 'feel': I felt stuffed full after dinner.
Patterns
- be stuffed full
- feel stuffed full
After the third helping of pie, I was stuffed full.
The children felt stuffed full after the birthday party.
Common combinations
- stuffed full of
- The suitcase was stuffed full of souvenirs.
- stuffed full with
- The cushions were stuffed full with feathers.
- absolutely stuffed full
- The bus was absolutely stuffed full by the time we got on.
- stuffed full to bursting
- The hall was stuffed full to bursting with guests.
Synonyms and how they differ
- packed
- More neutral and common for crowded places or tightly filled containers.
- crammed
- Emphasizes a tight, almost forced fit, often with people or things.
- brimming
- Suggests filled to the very top, often with liquid or emotion, not solid objects.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: stuffed full or full?
stuffed full vs full
Simply means holding as much as possible; 'stuffed full' adds the idea of being packed tightly or informally.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
The phrase is 'stuffed full of something'. 'With' is possible in some contexts but less common and sounds odd here; 'full old letters' and 'full from' are not grammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stuffed full”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.