thorough

adjective thor·ough \ ˈthər-(ˌ)ō , sometimes ˈthȯr- ; ˈthə-(ˌ)rō \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: thorough in a Sentence

Definition of thorough

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

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thoroughly

adverb

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thoroughness

noun

See thorough defined for English-language learners

See thorough defined for kids

Examples of thorough in a Sentence

… 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 of thorough from the Web

Regardless, The Staircase leaves you with an understanding not of how righteous justice is, but how evasive for so many, and how the best investigative work is thorough and slow—like the documentary itself.

— Vogue, "The Staircase," 8 June 2018
At Houston Methodist, new hires can expect a very thorough orientation process, which maps culture, values and history as well as ongoing professional development for various skills, Fernandez said.

— emilia benton, Houston Chronicle, "Houston area offers many health care opportunities to military veterans," 20 May 2018
Mr Park reckons the current investigation will be more thorough.

— The Economist, "A Samsung executive is accused of union-busting," 19 May 2018
Oakland officials said that system, called Accela, was more thorough and would prevent inspection lapses because properties were inputted based on county parcel information.

— kimberly veklerov, San Francisco Chronicle, "Oakland halts fire inspection program because of software change," 10 May 2018
The more thorough background check process, which Hatchett said is expected to cost an additional $850 per candidate, will include social media and news media searches.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "East Aurora moves to beef up background checks on superintendent candidates," 8 May 2018
It's been a methodical, thorough expansion process throughout.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Analysis: FC Cincinnati's MLS expansion bid in a good place. Enjoy the club for what it is today.," 19 Apr. 2018
Both said the town had not done a thorough search for a person to take over the post that Denise McNair had held for eight years.

— bill leukhardt, Courant Community, "Berlin Hires Town Manager," 18 Apr. 2018
Unlike other babysitting services, Wyndy's sitters are all full-time college students at top-tier universities who undergo a thorough application process and must pass a background check before gaining access to the app, according to the company.

— erin edgemon, AL.com, "Birmingham-based babysitter app Wyndy continues to expand, add staff," 26 Feb. 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.