thorough

adjective

thor·ough | \ ˈthər-(ˌ)ō ,

sometimes ˈthȯr- ; ˈthə-(ˌ)rō \

Definition of thorough

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : carried through to completion : exhaustive a thorough search

2a : 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

thorough

preposition

Definition of thorough (Entry 2 of 3)

archaic

: through

thorough

adverb

Definition of thorough (Entry 3 of 3)

archaic

: through

Other Words from thorough Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about thorough

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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 … as I look into their black faces, their hope is so thorough and consuming it frightens me. —Bob Shacochis, Harper's, February 1995 a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations The investigator will have to be thorough.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Nobody was foolishly sent off, or cruelly injured; there is no appetite for a thorough overhaul of the way England plays or thinks or plans for the future. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "Croatia Digs Deeper, Burying England’s World Cup Dreams," 12 July 2018 The non-church going hunter got his rights back as well — after a thorough scolding about staying out of trouble. — Scott Maxwell, OrlandoSentinel.com, "In Florida, getting back civil rights means groveling to politicians," 11 July 2018 According to a thorough account by Recode’s Johana Bhuiyan last year, Kalanick believed the HR division was there largely to recruit and fire talent, not manage interoffice grievances or allegations of sexism and harassment. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, "Uber senior executive resigns after racial discrimination allegations," 11 July 2018 The show wrapped with Stacy’s pledge to bring unique and thorough coverage to her readers, which will include regular visits to the podcast (33:30). — Chris Brodeur, courant.com, "UConn Insider Podcast: Meet New Women's Beat Reporter Kelli Stacy," 11 July 2018 Signs on the door of the ice arena on Thursday informed patrons that the facility will be closed through Sunday to allow for a thorough cleaning. — Staff Report, chicagotribune.com, "Fireworks are suspected cause of fire that temporarily closed Franklin Park ice arena," 5 July 2018 Eight years later, after a typically thorough set of studies, the M.T.A. hired Siemens, the German multinational, to install C.B.T.C. on the Canarsie line. — William Finnegan, The New Yorker, "Can Andy Byford Save the Subways?," 2 July 2018 In emails and testimony, numerous patients described Bates as a caring, thorough doctor who spent more time with them than other physicians. — Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky stops '25 Again' doctor from practicing hormone therapy," 21 June 2018 Behind the scenes, Airbus SE, the jetliner’s manufacturer, has pushed over the years for a more thorough probe of the crash. — Andy Pasztor, WSJ, "French Investigators, Countering Egypt, Say Fire Likely Caused EgyptAir Crash," 7 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thorough.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.