thor·ough
ˈthər-(ˌ)ō 
sometimes ˈthȯr-;
ˈthə-(ˌ)rō
1
: carried through to completion : exhaustive
a thorough search/examination/investigation
2
a
: including every possible part or detail
a thorough description
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
b
: careful about detail : painstaking
a thorough scholar
c
chiefly British
: complete in all respects
thorough pleasure/disgrace
a thorough mess/nuisance
d
: having full mastery (as of an art)
a thorough musician
thoroughness
noun
archaic
: through
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.
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
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
The review process for accommodation requests for animals should continue to be thorough and reasonable.
—Shari Wald Garrett, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
This season’s third episode should be recognized as the best hour of the series so far, a thorough, process-centric portrait of what’s required to lead the commonfolk and sit on the maybe-sentient Iron Throne, which is famed for its ability to accept or reject a ruler.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 June 2026
In its letter, the LAPPL said after a thorough review of communications between the city there was nothing specific on reforming police oversight, police discipline or any other matter about the LAPD.
—City News Service, Daily News, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorough
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Adjective
Officials cautioned that determining a final cause and manner of death is a thorough process that could take several days or weeks to complete.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
The review process for accommodation requests for animals should continue to be thorough and reasonable.
—Shari Wald Garrett, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
This season’s third episode should be recognized as the best hour of the series so far, a thorough, process-centric portrait of what’s required to lead the commonfolk and sit on the maybe-sentient Iron Throne, which is famed for its ability to accept or reject a ruler.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 June 2026
In its letter, the LAPPL said after a thorough review of communications between the city there was nothing specific on reforming police oversight, police discipline or any other matter about the LAPD.
—City News Service, Daily News, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorough
Cite this Entry
“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorough. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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