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

• 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

Jupiter resides in the 3rd House by a degree in Sagittarius, which shows the desire to talk a lot with the incentive of finding an understanding of the self through discussing matters thoroughly. —Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025

Use a clean cloth to thoroughly dry the area. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025

Wash cutting boards and dishes thoroughly with hot, soapy water. —Brian Mastroianni, Health, 2 Oct. 2025

Always thoroughly wash your hands after handling and preparing food, especially raw or uncooked products. —Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above