thor·ough
ˈthər-(ˌ)ō 
sometimes ˈthȯr-;
ˈthə-(ˌ)rō
1
: carried through to completion : exhaustive
a thorough search/examination/investigation
2
a
: including every possible part or detail
a thorough description
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
b
: careful about detail : painstaking
a thorough scholar
c
chiefly British
: complete in all respects
thorough pleasure/disgrace
a thorough mess/nuisance
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
Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
The university said a mechanical contractor verified the system was safely shut down, and the school's maintenance team will coordinate with the fire department Thursday morning to conduct a thorough final inspection prior to the building reopening.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Officers conducted a thorough search of the campus but no such person was located, the agency said in a news release later that day.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Like any lethal use of force incident involving law enforcement, there should be a thorough review of the facts.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorough
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
After a thorough investigation involving canine detection units, police said no explosive devices were found and the building was clear.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
The university said a mechanical contractor verified the system was safely shut down, and the school's maintenance team will coordinate with the fire department Thursday morning to conduct a thorough final inspection prior to the building reopening.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Officers conducted a thorough search of the campus but no such person was located, the agency said in a news release later that day.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Like any lethal use of force incident involving law enforcement, there should be a thorough review of the facts.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorough
Cite this Entry
“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorough. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
