thoroughly

adverb

thor·​ough·​ly ˈthər-(ˌ)ō-lē How to pronounce thoroughly (audio)
 sometimes  ˈthȯr-;
ˈthə-(ˌ)rō-
: in a complete or thorough manner
Police thoroughly searched the crime scene for clues.
Bats are extremely tidy: they comb themselves thoroughly, and don't gather a mess of nesting materials for their homes, as birds do.Diane Ackerman
: to a complete or thorough extent
We were thoroughly satisfied with the service we received.
thoroughly disgusted/delighted
By taking all the tricks in the game, one defeats the opponent so thoroughly that he may be disconcerted …Craig M. Carver

Examples of thoroughly in a Sentence

they researched the issue thoroughly before deciding how to vote I am thoroughly satisfied with her explanation of the events of that evening
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After planting, water thoroughly and thereafter only when the surface soil starts to dry. Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2025 Perretta said the district will take time to thoroughly review the recommendations and analyze their financial impact, and that the district remains committed to bargaining in good faith. Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025 This is a rare, generous opportunity—one that was thoroughly vetted and intentionally designed to support employees through restructuring. Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 Dry them thoroughly with a clean microfiber cloth to prevent hard water from drying on them again, leaving behind trace amounts of calcium and magnesium, and starting the cloudy process again. Heather Bien, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for thoroughly 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thoroughly was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near thoroughly

Cite this Entry

“Thoroughly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughly. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

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