thorough
adjective
executed without negligence or omissions.
Jump to:
thorough
American
[thur-oh, thuhr-oh]
/ ˈθɜr oʊ, ˈθʌr oʊ /
adjective
-
executed without negligence or omissions.
a thorough search.
- Synonyms:
- total, unqualified, sheer, downright, exhaustive, in-depth
- Antonyms:
- superficial, partial
-
thorough enjoyment.
-
extremely attentive to accuracy and detail; painstaking: a thorough analysis.
a thorough worker;
a thorough analysis.
-
having full command or mastery of an art, talent, etc..
a thorough actress.
-
extending or passing through.
adverb
noun
thorough
1
British
/ ˈθʌrə /
adjective
-
carried out completely and carefully
a thorough search
-
(prenominal) utter
a thorough bore
-
painstakingly careful
my work is thorough
Thorough
2
British
/ ˈθʌrə /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thorough
First recorded before 900; Middle English (preposition and adverb); Old English thuruh, variant of thurh through
Explanation
Thorough describes something that is painstakingly complete, like a thorough search for your missing keys in which you look for them in coat pockets, under the table, in the refrigerator — in every single place you can think of. Thorough rhymes with "burrow": "THUR-oh." It looks a lot like through but remember thorough is an adjective, so you might use it to describe a thorough investigation or a thorough review. In contrast through is used most often as a preposition — you might look through every drawer, for example, in a search — or as an adverb — you might see a hole in your pocket where coins fall through.
Vocabulary lists containing thorough
"Earth and Space"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Everything, Everything
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“This investment was made after thorough diligence of the investment structure and the underlying documentation,” Prasad said in a statement on his fund’s stake in Anthropic.
From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026
Ramaphosa would face "very rough and thorough questions" if impeachment proceedings were opened, he added.
From Barron's • May 8, 2026
“He did, what I think is a very thorough job figuring out what’s causing this movement in the case of locomotion and tying down the mechanical elements,” Goard said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
If infected rodents are confirmed on board, public-health officials might require a thorough decontamination—a process that, according to the CDC, involves wetting all surfaces with disinfectants before cleaning to avoid sending virus particles airborne.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
“The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle,” Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall.
From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling
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.
