detailed
Americanadjective
-
having many details.
a detailed problem.
- Synonyms:
- complicated, complex, involved
-
thorough in the treatment of details; minute.
a detailed report.
- Synonyms:
- comprehensive, thorough, exhaustive
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of detailed
Explanation
Use the adjective detailed when you're talking about something that's full of specific points or facts. A detailed weather report includes temperature, cloud cover, and the possibility of rain. Something that's detailed is focused on the fine points or small aspects — a detailed portrait of your grandmother includes every wisp of hair and subtle shade of skin. Detailed explanations take some time, because the person doing the explaining isn't leaving any detail out. The literal Old French meaning of the noun detail is "a cutting in pieces," and it's used to mean "small piece or quantity."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She can glean more detailed information in Mandarin and feels more confident filling out school forms in her native language.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
That extends well beyond the information available to patients through the NHS app and may include safeguarding concerns, risk assessments, correspondence between healthcare professionals and detailed consultation notes.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Using both datasets will allow scientists to build more detailed models of the stars and calculate properties including their chemical abundances and the rates at which stellar winds strip away their mass.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026
Reed did not respond to detailed questions about the Corner Bakery meeting, the $150,000 donation and Kao’s allegations.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Though this was a flower book, Maria included beautifully detailed insects on almost every page.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
