thor·ough
ˈthər-(ˌ)ō 
sometimes ˈthȯr-;
ˈthə-(ˌ)rō
1
: carried through to completion : exhaustive
a thorough search
2
a
: marked by full detail
a thorough description
b
: careful about detail : painstaking
a thorough scholar
c
: complete in all respects
thorough pleasure
d
: having full mastery (as of an art)
a thorough musician
thoroughness
noun
archaic
: through
Examples of thorough in a Sentence
Adjective
… one realized that it was the restaurant's thorough and even comic Frenchness that had made it so entirely New York.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2004
Bruce tells me to squat down and Koani sidles up, ears flattened, tail tucked away, and gives my face a thorough licking.
—Nicholas Evans, Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept. 1998
The job was uncharacteristically thorough for a Russian contract killing—three different types of bullets riddled Mikho's body.
—New Republic, 15 Dec. 1997
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
The investigator will have to be thorough.
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2004
Bruce tells me to squat down and Koani sidles up, ears flattened, tail tucked away, and gives my face a thorough licking.
—Nicholas Evans, Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept. 1998
The job was uncharacteristically thorough for a Russian contract killing—three different types of bullets riddled Mikho's body.
—New Republic, 15 Dec. 1997
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
The investigator will have to be thorough.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Godsey said the state budget is no place for changes like this, which need thorough review and vetting.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
The water reservoir runs for about 45 seconds per fill, just enough for a thorough clean.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 3 July 2025
Allen recommends familiarizing yourself with your state’s requirements and keeping thorough documentation of your health and employment.
—Staff Author, Verywell Health, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorough
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Adjective
This requires clear expectations, thorough documentation, and measuring success by deliverables rather than desk time.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Godsey said the state budget is no place for changes like this, which need thorough review and vetting.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
The water reservoir runs for about 45 seconds per fill, just enough for a thorough clean.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 3 July 2025
Allen recommends familiarizing yourself with your state’s requirements and keeping thorough documentation of your health and employment.
—Staff Author, Verywell Health, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorough
Cite this Entry
“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorough. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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