thoroughly

adverb

thor·​ough·​ly ˈthər-(ˌ)ō-lē How to pronounce thoroughly (audio)
 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

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
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.
Shake thoroughly to blend the smoky and sweet flavors, then strain the cocktail into a coupe glass. Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Tom's said the black substance was located in an area that was hard to reach and prone to moisture, but that it has since thoroughly been cleaned. Ayana Archie, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024 Aryan brings a bold and dynamic directorial vision, and has created something truly one-of-a-kind and thoroughly entertaining. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024 Growing up with a Black mom and grandma, I was conditioned to associate a few key things with femininity: a thoroughly lotioned and glistening body, gold jewelry, and always smelling amazing. Annie Blay, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for thoroughly 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thoroughly was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near thoroughly

Cite this Entry

“Thoroughly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughly. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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