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

Dry Dill To dry dill, wash and dry it thoroughly. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

Wood that hasn’t been stained or sealed in a while soaks up water like a sponge and can take a considerable amount of time to dry thoroughly. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025

Next up, the watchmaker dismantles the movement, carefully inspecting and thoroughly cleaning each part. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025

Brush and Floss Daily Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice daily and flossing your teeth once a day significantly reduces the risk of cavities. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above