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

Rinse the grate, then dry thoroughly with a soft, clean towel. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 July 2025

Carolina thoroughly deserved its early lead, to the exact same degree Florida deserved its hole. —Greg Cote june 29, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025

Submerge charcoal in water until it's thoroughly cooled. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2025

Not setting aside enough time to thoroughly enjoy the Six Senses Spa’s heated water beds, cold plunge, sauna, and indoor pool. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above