A thorough action or activity is one that is done very carefully and in a detailed way so that nothing is forgotten.
We are making a thorough investigation.
This very thorough survey goes back to 1784.
How thorough is the assessment?
Synonyms: comprehensive, full, complete, sweeping More Synonyms of thorough
thoroughlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Food that is being offered hot must be reheated thoroughly.
...a thoroughly researched and illuminating biography.
Synonyms: fully, completely, throughout, inside out More Synonyms of thorough
Synonyms: carefully, completely, fully, comprehensively More Synonyms of thorough
thoroughnessuncountable noun
The thoroughness of the evaluation process we went through was impressive. [+ of]
2. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
Someone who is thorough is always very careful in their work, so that nothing is forgotten.
Martin would be a good judge, I thought. He was calm and thorough.
The men were expert, thorough and careful.
Synonyms: careful, conscientious, painstaking, efficient More Synonyms of thorough
thoroughnessuncountable noun
His thoroughness and attention to detail is legendary.
3. adjective
Thorough is used to emphasize the great degree or extent of something.
[emphasis]
I was a thorough little academic snob.
We regard the band as a thorough shambles.
Synonyms: complete, total, absolute, utter More Synonyms of thorough
thoroughlyadverb [ADVERB before verb, ADVERB adjective]
I thoroughly enjoy your programme.
We returned home thoroughly contented.
Synonyms: fully, completely, throughout, inside out More Synonyms of thorough
Synonyms: completely, quite, totally, perfectly More Synonyms of thorough
thorough in British English
(ˈθʌrə)
adjective
1.
carried out completely and carefully
a thorough search
2. (prenominal)
utter
a thorough bore
3.
painstakingly careful
my work is thorough
Derived forms
thoroughly (ˈthoroughly)
adverb
thoroughness (ˈthoroughness)
noun
Word origin
Old English thurh; related to Old Frisian thruch, Old Saxon thuru, Old High German duruh; see through
Thorough in British English
(ˈθʌrə)
noun
thoroughgoing policy, as adopted in England by Strafford and Laud during the reign of Charles I
thorough in American English
(ˈθɜroʊ; British ˈθʌrə)
preposition, adverb
1. Obsolete
through
adjective
2.
passing through
now chiefly in combination, as in thoroughfare
3.
done or proceeding through to the end; omitting nothing; complete
a thorough checkup
4.
that is completely (the thing specified); out-and-out; absolute
a thorough rascal
5.
very exact, accurate, or painstaking, esp. with regard to details
a thorough researcher
noun
6. [T-]; English
the ruthlessly thoroughgoing administrative policies carried out by William Laud and the Earl of Strafford during the reign of Charles I
Derived forms
thoroughly (ˈthoroughly)
adverb
thoroughness (ˈthoroughness)
noun
Word origin
ME thoruh, thuruh, an emphatic var. of through, through
Examples of 'thorough' in a sentence
thorough
Admittedly there hasn't been time for a thorough post mortem.
Hinxman, Margaret THE SOUND OF MURDER (2002)
Without warning the blond youth threw him against the side of the car and carried out a thorough body search.
Forbes, Bryan THE ENDLESS GAME (2002)
There were, he knew, certain people who would have liked to see him make a thorough fool of himself.
Martin, Joy THE IMAGE OF LAURA (2002)
Marin enjoyed the show and said, "I like my men to be thorough.
Mark Burnell THE RHYTHM SECTION (2002)
In other languages
thorough
British English: thorough /ˈθʌrə/ ADJECTIVE
A thorough action is done very carefully and methodically.
We are making a thorough investigation.
American English: thorough
Arabic: دَقِيق
Brazilian Portuguese: minucioso
Chinese: 彻底的
Croatian: temeljit
Czech: důkladný
Danish: grundig
Dutch: grondig
European Spanish: concienzudo
Finnish: perusteellinen
French: minutieux
German: gründlich
Greek: ενδελεχής
Italian: completo
Japanese: 徹底的な
Korean: 철저한
Norwegian: grundig
Polish: gruntowny
European Portuguese: minucioso
Romanian: amănunțit
Russian: доскональный
Latin American Spanish: concienzudo
Swedish: grundlig
Thai: ละเอียดถี่ถ้วน
Turkish: baştanbaşa
Ukrainian: ретельний
Vietnamese: kỹ lưỡng
All related terms of 'thorough'
thorough bass
(esp during the baroque period) a bass part underlying a piece of concerted music. It is played on a keyboard instrument, usually supported by a cello , viola da gamba , etc
thorough brace
either of a pair of leather straps supporting the body of a coach or other horse-drawn vehicle and often serving as springs
basso continuo
(esp during the baroque period) a bass part underlying a piece of concerted music. It is played on a keyboard instrument, usually supported by a cello , viola da gamba , etc
bassos
(esp during the baroque period) a bass part underlying a piece of concerted music. It is played on a keyboard instrument, usually supported by a cello , viola da gamba , etc
thoroughgoing
You use thoroughgoing to emphasize that someone or something is fully or completely the type of person or thing specified.
Chinese translation of 'thorough'
thorough
(ˈθʌrə)
adj
[search, investigation]彻(徹)底的 (chèdǐ de)
[knowledge, research]详(詳)尽(盡)的 (xiángjìn de)
(= methodical)[person]细(細)致(緻)的 (xìzhì de)
(= complete) 完全的 (wánquán de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
great in extent or degree
We are making a thorough investigation.
Synonyms
comprehensive
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
full
They can now publish a full list of candidates.
complete
sweeping
sweeping economic reforms
intensive
several days and nights of intensive negotiations
in-depth
exhaustive
The author's treatment of the subject is exhaustive.
all-inclusive
all-embracing
leaving no stone unturned
Opposites
cursory
,
half-hearted
,
haphazard
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of a person) painstakingly careful
The men were expert, thorough and careful.
Synonyms
careful
He decided to prosecute her after careful consideration of all the facts.
conscientious
She is generally very conscientious about her work.
painstaking
Police carried out a painstaking search of the area.
efficient
meticulous
He was so meticulous about everything.
exhaustive
scrupulous
scrupulous attention to detail
assiduous
an assiduous student
Opposites
careless
,
sloppy
,
lackadaisical
3 (adjective)
Definition
great in extent or degree
I was a thorough little academic snob.
Synonyms
complete
He made me look like a complete idiot.
total
The car was in a total mess.
I mean I'm not a total idiot.
absolute
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
utter
A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
perfect
She behaved like a perfect fool.
entire
He assured me of his entire confidence in me.
pure
The old man turned to give her a look of pure surprise.
sheer
acts of sheer desperation
outright
He told me an outright lie.
downright (derogatory)
downright bad manners
unqualified
The event was an unqualified success.
out-and-out
You're an out-and-out liar.
unmitigated
A senior police officer had called him an unmitigated liar.
arrant (derogatory)
That's the most arrant nonsense I've ever heard.
deep-dyed usually derogatory)
Opposites
partial
,
superficial
,
incomplete
,
imperfect
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absolute
Definition
total and complete
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
Synonyms
complete,
total,
perfect,
entire,
pure,
sheer,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
consummate,
unqualified,
full-on (informal),
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
dyed-in-the-wool,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
unmixed,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed
in the sense of arrant
Definition
utter or downright
That's the most arrant nonsense I've ever heard.
Synonyms
total,
complete,
extreme,
absolute,
gross,
notorious,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
infamous,
rank,
blatant,
monstrous,
vile,
downright,
atrocious,
out-and-out,
flagrant,
egregious,
unmitigated,
undisguised,
thoroughgoing,
deep-dyed
in the sense of assiduous
Definition
hard-working
an assiduous student
Synonyms
diligent,
constant,
steady,
hard-working,
persistent,
attentive,
persevering,
laborious,
industrious,
indefatigable,
studious,
unflagging,
untiring,
swotty (British, informal),
sedulous,
unwearied
Synonyms of 'thorough'
thorough
Explore 'thorough' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conscientious
Definition
painstaking or thorough in one's work
She is generally very conscientious about her work.
Synonyms
thorough,
particular,
careful,
exact,
faithful,
meticulous,
painstaking,
diligent,
punctilious (formal)
in the sense of downright
Definition
absolute
downright bad manners
Synonyms
complete,
absolute,
utter,
total,
positive (informal),
clear,
plain,
simple,
explicit,
outright,
blatant,
unequivocal,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
categorical,
undisguised,
thoroughgoing,
arrant,
deep-dyed
in the sense of entire
He assured me of his entire confidence in me.
Synonyms
absolute,
full,
total,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
unqualified,
unrestricted,
undiminished,
unmitigated,
unreserved
in the sense of exhaustive
Definition
very thorough
The author's treatment of the subject is exhaustive.
Synonyms
thorough,
detailed,
complete,
full,
total,
sweeping,
comprehensive,
extensive,
intensive,
full-scale,
in-depth,
far-reaching,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing,
encyclopedic,
thoroughgoing
in the sense of full
Definition
with all privileges or rights
They can now publish a full list of candidates.
Synonyms
comprehensive,
complete,
thorough,
exhaustive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing,
unabridged
in the sense of intensive
Definition
of or needing concentrated effort or resources
several days and nights of intensive negotiations
Synonyms
concentrated,
thorough,
exhaustive,
full,
demanding,
detailed,
complete,
serious,
concerted,
intense,
comprehensive,
vigorous,
all-out,
in-depth,
strenuous,
painstaking,
all-embracing,
assiduous,
thoroughgoing
in the sense of meticulous
Definition
very precise about details
He was so meticulous about everything.
Synonyms
thorough,
detailed,
particular,
strict,
exact,
precise,
microscopic,
fussy,
painstaking,
perfectionist,
scrupulous,
fastidious,
punctilious,
nit-picky (informal)
in the sense of out-and-out
Definition
absolute
You're an out-and-out liar.
Synonyms
absolute,
complete,
total,
perfect,
sheer,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
consummate,
unqualified,
unmitigated,
dyed-in-the-wool,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
arrant,
deep-dyed
in the sense of outright
Definition
complete
He told me an outright lie.
Synonyms
absolute,
complete,
total,
direct,
perfect,
pure,
sheer,
utter,
thorough,
wholesale,
unconditional,
downright,
consummate,
unqualified,
undeniable,
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
arrant,
deep-dyed
in the sense of painstaking
Definition
extremely careful and thorough
Police carried out a painstaking search of the area.
Synonyms
thorough,
careful,
meticulous,
earnest,
exacting,
strenuous,
conscientious,
persevering,
diligent,
scrupulous,
industrious,
assiduous,
thoroughgoing,
punctilious (formal),
sedulous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of perfect
Definition
utter or absolute
She behaved like a perfect fool.
Synonyms
complete,
absolute,
sheer,
utter,
consummate,
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
unalloyed
in the sense of pure
Definition
complete
The old man turned to give her a look of pure surprise.
Synonyms
complete,
total,
perfect,
absolute,
mere,
sheer,
patent,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
palpable,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
unmitigated
in the sense of scrupulous
Definition
very careful or precise
scrupulous attention to detail
Synonyms
careful,
strict,
precise,
minute,
nice,
exact,
rigorous,
meticulous,
painstaking,
fastidious,
punctilious (formal)
in the sense of sheer
Definition
absolute
acts of sheer desperation
Synonyms
total,
complete,
absolute,
utter,
rank,
pure,
downright (derogatory),
unqualified,
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
arrant (derogatory)
in the sense of sweeping
Definition
affecting many people to a great extent
sweeping economic reforms
Synonyms
wide-ranging,
global,
comprehensive,
wide,
broad,
radical,
extensive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing,
overarching,
thoroughgoing
in the sense of total
Definition
complete
The car was in a total mess.I mean I'm not a total idiot.
Synonyms
complete,
absolute,
utter,
whole,
perfect,
entire,
sheer,
outright,
all-out,
thorough,
unconditional,
downright (derogatory),
undisputed,
consummate,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
undivided,
overarching,
unmitigated,
thoroughgoing,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed (derogatory)
in the sense of unmitigated
Definition
total and complete
A senior police officer had called him an unmitigated liar.
Synonyms
complete,
absolute,
utter,
perfect,
rank,
sheer,
total,
outright,
thorough,
downright (derogatory),
consummate,
out-and-out,
thoroughgoing,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed (derogatory)
in the sense of unqualified
Definition
having no conditions or limitations
The event was an unqualified success.
Synonyms
unconditional,
complete,
total,
absolute,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright (derogatory),
consummate,
unrestricted,
out-and-out,
categorical,
unmitigated,
unreserved,
thoroughgoing,
without reservation,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed (derogatory)
in the sense of utter
Definition
total or absolute
A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.