thorough

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
العربية الفصحى
Arabic (Standard)
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Français
French
हिन्दी
Hindi
/ˈθɝˌoʊ/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
Careful enough to cover every important part, sometimes with a sense of total extent.
Practice using thorough in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • We need a more thorough understanding of the risks.
  • Did the police conduct a thorough search of the building?
  • The mechanic carried out a thorough inspection of the brakes.
  • His first draft was clear but not thorough enough.
  • She is thorough, even when the deadline is tight.

Similar words

comprehensive
unqualified
complete
careful
meticulous
total
systematic
utter
detailed
painstaking

Meanings

Careful and complete

adjective
everyday
neutral
Done with close attention to every important part so that nothing significant is missed, or describing a person who works in this way.

Examples

  • The mechanic carried out a thorough inspection of the brakes.
  • She is thorough, even when the deadline is tight.
  • Did the police conduct a thorough search of the building?
  • We need a more thorough understanding of the risks.
  • His first draft was clear but not thorough enough.

Similar words

careful
detailed
comprehensive
meticulous
systematic
painstaking

Complete or absolute

adjective
everyday
neutral
Used before a noun to emphasize that something reaches the fullest possible degree, often when the judgment is strongly negative.

Examples

  • The trip was a thorough waste of time.
  • By noon, the office was in thorough confusion.
  • He made a thorough fool of himself at dinner.
  • Their sudden withdrawal came as a thorough surprise.
  • The experiment ended in thorough failure.

Similar words

complete
absolute
total
utter
downright
unqualified

Etymology

From Middle English thoro and thorow, stressed forms related to through. The central image was of going all the way through something, which led to the ideas of completeness and close attention.

FAQ

What does thorough mean?

Thorough usually means careful and complete enough to cover every important part.

How do you pronounce thorough?

In General American English, thorough is pronounced /ˈθɝˌoʊ/.

Can a person be thorough?

Yes. A thorough person works carefully and makes sure important details are not missed.

What is the difference between thorough and detailed?

Detailed focuses on including many small points, while thorough also suggests that the whole task has been carefully completed.

Where does thorough come from?

Thorough comes from Middle English forms related to through, with the idea of going all the way through something.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...