thorough

1 of 3

adjective

thor·​ough ˈthər-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce thorough (audio)
 sometimes  ˈthȯr-;
ˈthə-(ˌ)rō
1
: carried through to completion : exhaustive
a thorough search
2
a
: marked by full detail
a thorough description
b
: careful about detail : painstaking
a thorough scholar
c
: complete in all respects
thorough pleasure
d
: having full mastery (as of an art)
a thorough musician
thoroughness noun

thorough

2 of 3

preposition

archaic

thorough

3 of 3

adverb

archaic

Examples of thorough in a Sentence

Adjective … one realized that it was the restaurant's thorough and even comic Frenchness that had made it so entirely New York. Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2004
Bruce tells me to squat down and Koani sidles up, ears flattened, tail tucked away, and gives my face a thorough licking. Nicholas Evans, Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept. 1998
The job was uncharacteristically thorough for a Russian contract killing—three different types of bullets riddled Mikho's body. New Republic, 15 Dec. 1997
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations The investigator will have to be thorough.
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.
Adjective
This requires clear expectations, thorough documentation, and measuring success by deliverables rather than desk time. Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025 Godsey said the state budget is no place for changes like this, which need thorough review and vetting. Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025 The water reservoir runs for about 45 seconds per fill, just enough for a thorough clean. Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 3 July 2025 Allen recommends familiarizing yourself with your state’s requirements and keeping thorough documentation of your health and employment. Staff Author, Verywell Health, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for thorough

Word History

Etymology

Preposition, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English thorow, from Old English thurh, thuruh, preposition & adverb

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thorough was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorough. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

thorough

adjective
thor·​ough
ˈthər-ō,
ˈthə-rō
1
: marked by or carried out to completion : exhaustive
a thorough search
2
: careful about detail
a thorough worker
thoroughly adverb
thoroughness noun
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English thorow "thorough," from Old English thuruh, thurh "through" — related to thrill, through see Word History at thrill

More from Merriam-Webster on thorough

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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