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

Then, coat a grout brush with the paste and scrub the area thoroughly. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

The two Metcalfs [sic] and Holt understood one another thoroughly, and understood their hounds and the game their hounds followed almost as thoroughly. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Once the mixture has been removed, use a dry microfiber cloth to thoroughly dry the area. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026

Scrub the inside of the kettle with a brush and rinse it thoroughly with water before using it. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above