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

State wildlife officials continue to urge boaters and anyone using California waterways to thoroughly clean, drain and dry their watercraft and equipment before moving between bodies of water in an effort to slow the spread of the invasive species. — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 28 June 2026

Water the base of the tree thoroughly to help the soil settle. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026

However, this depends on how long and how carefully the steam cleaner is used since the steam has to thoroughly penetrate the carpet to eliminate them. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 June 2026

Sprinkle a tablespoon of Epsom salt around each plant and immediately water it into the ground thoroughly. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above