exhaustive

[ ig-zaws-tiv ]
/ ɪgˈzɔs tɪv /

adjective

exhausting a subject, topic, etc.; comprehensive; thorough: He published an exhaustive study of Greek vases.
tending to exhaust or drain, as resources or strength: a protracted, exhaustive siege of illness.

QUIZZES

QUIZ TIME: TEST YOUR MEMORY OF THE MAY 2020 WORDS OF THE DAY

Let the aeolian gusts transport you back to these popular Words of the Day from the month of May. How many do you remember?
Question 1 of 10
Which of the following words means “to travel or journey, especially to walk on foot”?
hightail
peregrinate
perpetrate
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of exhaustive

First recorded in 1780–90; exhaust + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM exhaustive

Words nearby exhaustive

exhaust-gas recirculation, exhausted, exhausting, exhaustion, exhaustion psychosis, exhaustive, exhaustless, exhedra, exhibit, exhibition, exhibition game
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for nonexhaustive

exhaustive
/ (ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv) /

adjective

comprehensive in scope; thoroughan exhaustive survey
tending to exhaust

Derived forms of exhaustive

exhaustively, adverbexhaustiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012