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

So be sure to take the time to thoroughly research not only rates but also lenders, terms, fees and closing costs. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

Submerge charcoal in water until it's thoroughly cooled. —Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026

This allows your provider to assess your skin thoroughly before recommending the right booster(s) for you. —Jenny Jin, Allure, 21 Mar. 2026

The aide, Matt Yagyagan, said the structural changes the measure would make should be studied more thoroughly during a comprehensive review of the city charter. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above