thoroughly

adverb

thor·​ough·​ly ˈthər-(ˌ)ō-lē 

sometimes ˈthȯr-;

ˈthə-(ˌ)rō-

: in a complete or thorough manner

Police thoroughly searched the crime scene for clues.

Bats are extremely tidy: they comb themselves thoroughly, and don't gather a mess of nesting materials for their homes, as birds do.

—Diane Ackerman

: to a complete or thorough extent

We were thoroughly satisfied with the service we received.

thoroughly disgusted/delighted

By taking all the tricks in the game, one defeats the opponent so thoroughly that he may be disconcerted …

—Craig M. Carver

Synonyms of thoroughly

• systematically
• fully

Examples of thoroughly in a Sentence

they researched the issue thoroughly before deciding how to vote

I am thoroughly satisfied with her explanation of the events of that evening

Recent Examples on the Web

That cleaned out the upper ranks pretty thoroughly, though Joly is an accomplished pass-catcher. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026

Add the eggs, butter, bourbon, vanilla, and salt to flour mixture, whisking until thoroughly combined. —Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026

Avoid rinsing the blueberries before freezing to preserve the natural protective bloom; if rinsed, dry thoroughly. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2026

Kansas City’s position near the heart of the Midwest puts a collection of strange, charming and thoroughly one-of-a-kind roadside attractions within a day’s driving distance for a summer getaway. —Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above