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.
The Dayton band, which rose to fame in the 1970s, filled its set with a variety of theatrics and gimmicks that left me thoroughly entertained. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 27 July 2025 Use a garden sprayer or a spray bottle to apply the milk spray to the tops and undersides of plant leaves, ensuring they are thoroughly drenched. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025 Stir together peanut butter, pepper jelly, and remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 26 July 2025 Not surprisingly, the 5-in-1 tool ultimately made it out a little late, as the usual crowd-funder stumbles and hiccups were thoroughly compounded by a global pandemic for which no one had planned. New Atlas, 25 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Thoroughly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughly. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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