full-bore

adjective

Having a relatively large caliber.

“He is a full-bore environmental activist.”

Similar
full-blownfull-onfull-fledgedfull throttlefull speed aheadfull tiltfull tilt boogieballs to the wall
OriginEnglish bore ← Middle English boren ← Old English borian →
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Meanings

adjectivefull-bore (not comparable)

alternative full bore

  1. not comparableengineeringHaving a relatively large caliber.

    Mounted on the wall was a full-bore elephant gun.

  2. figurativelynot comparableThoroughgoing; complete; total.

    He is a full-bore environmental activist.

    1 more example

    The problem had grown into a full-bore crisis.

    Synonyms: full-blown, full-on, full-fledged

adverbfull-bore (not comparable)

alternative full bore

  1. figurativelynot comparableAt top speed; with full power.

    He is full-bore into environmental activism.

    1 more example

    The car raced full-bore into oncoming traffic.

    Synonyms: full-on, full throttle, full speed ahead, full tilt, full tilt boogie, balls to the wall, balls-out, pedal to the metal

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveThoroughgoing; complete; total.

Similar
full-blownfull-onfull-fledged

adverbAt top speed; with full power.

Similar
full-onfull throttlefull speed aheadfull tiltfull tilt boogieballs to the wallballs-outpedal to the metal
Also see
abjectarrantcompletedownrightfull-blownfull-fledgedfull-grownfull tilt boogiemereout-and-outpreciousproperregularroot and branchsheerthoroughgoingtotalunalloyedutterwhole-ass

Origin

  1. Englishfull
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰerH-
  3. Proto-Germanic*burōną
  4. Proto-West Germanic*borōn
  5. Old Englishborian
  6. Middle Englishboren
  7. Englishbore
  8. Englishfull-bore

From full + bore (“the barrel of a gun”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“full-bore.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/full-bore. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

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

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