chock full

/ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/

adjective

Containing the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.

“That article is chock-full of errors.”

OriginMiddle English chokkeful ← Old French choquier →
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Meanings

adjectivechock full (comparative more chock full, superlative most chock full)

comparative more chock full · superlative most chock full · alternative chocked full · alternative chockful · alternative chock-full · alternative chockfull · alternative chokeful · alternative choke full · alternative choke-full · alternative chokefull · alternative chuck-full · alternative chuck full · alternative chalk full

  1. informalContaining the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.

    That article is chock-full of errors.

    3 more examples

    The pages of the diary are chock full of fascinating reports of medical incidents of all sorts.

    1741, George E. Nitzsche, The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, University of Pennsylvania. General Alumni Society, pages 251

    “Chock full o' science,” said the radiant Captain, “as ever he was![…]”

    1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 565

    The story is chock full, not only of excellent science, but woven through it there is also that very rare element, love and romance.

    1928 August, E. E. Smith, “The Skylark of Space”, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, Preface

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
brimfulchock-a-block full

Origin

  1. Old Frenchchoquier“collide, crash, hit”
  2. Middle Englishchokkeful“crammed full”
  3. Englishchock full

From Middle English chokkeful (“crammed full”) c. 1400, possibly from choke (“cheek”), equivalent to cheek + full. Or it may be from Old French choquier (“collide, crash, hit”), similar to shock. The later form chock-a-block full is due to association with chock, used in carpentry and shipbuilding.

More words from Middle English, Old French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian претъпкан
  • претъпкан (pretăpkan)containing the maximum amount
Dutch tjokvol, boordevol
  • tjokvolcontaining the maximum amount
  • boordevolcontaining the maximum amount
Esperanto plenplena
  • plenplenacontaining the maximum amount
French plein à craquer, bourré
  • plein à craquercontaining the maximum amount
  • bourrécontaining the maximum amount
German voller, voll bis zum Rand
  • vollercontaining the maximum amount
  • voll bis zum Randcontaining the maximum amount
  • rappelvollcontaining the maximum amount
Italian satollo, pieno zeppo
  • satollocontaining the maximum amount
  • pieno zeppocontaining the maximum amount
  • farcitocontaining the maximum amount
Latin effertus
  • effertuscontaining the maximum amount
Norwegian tjåkfull
  • tjåkfullcontaining the maximum amount
Polish wypełniony po brzegi, nabity
  • wypełniony po brzegicontaining the maximum amount
  • nabitycontaining the maximum amount
Russian битко́м наби́тый, перепо́лненный
  • битко́м наби́тый (bitkóm nabítyj)containing the maximum amount
  • перепо́лненный (perepólnennyj)containing the maximum amount
Spanish repleto, petado
  • repletocontaining the maximum amount
  • petadocontaining the maximum amount
  • a reventarcontaining the maximum amount
Cite this entry
APA

chock full. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chock%20full

MLA

“chock full.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chock%20full. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chock full,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chock%20full.

Source: chock full on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.