chock full

/ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/

//ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl// adj

"chock-full" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“chock full” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Containing the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.

Key facts for chock full
PropertyValue
Headwordchock full
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “chock full” sits in English frequency

chock full falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for chock full is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Containing the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for chock full, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: 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 … The correct English form is chock full, spelled C-H-O-C-K- -F-U-L-L.

Definition

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

Etymology

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.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "chock full"?
"chock full" is spelled C-H-O-C-K- -F-U-L-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/.
What does "chock full" mean?
As an adjective, "chock full" means: Containing the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.
How do you pronounce "chock full"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "chock full" is /ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "chock 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 associa... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “chock full”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-O-C-K- -F-U-L-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list