thorough
complete and detailed; covering everything
Done in a very careful and complete way so that nothing is missed.
a thorough [check/review/search/cleaning/examination]
- The police carried out a thorough investigation before making any arrests.
- Give the kitchen a thorough cleaning before the guests arrive.
- After a thorough review of the documents, the lawyer found several mistakes.
- We need a thorough check of the system before we go live.
- The report provides a thorough examination of the problem.
- The doctor did a thorough check of my eyes.
- Please give your room a thorough clean this weekend.
- I did a thorough search, but I could not find my keys.
- The teacher gave us a thorough review before the test.
- They made a thorough study of the market.
careful and serious in work
Careful and serious about doing all parts of a job well and not missing anything.
[someone] is (a) thorough [worker/professional/person]
- She is a very thorough editor and spots even tiny errors.
- You can trust him with this project; he's thorough and reliable.
- Their team is known for its thorough approach to safety.
- I like working with people who are thorough and organized.
- Her thorough preparation made the presentation go smoothly.
- My boss is very thorough and checks all my work.
- The new assistant is slow, but she is thorough.
- We need a thorough person for this job.
- He is not fast, but he is very thorough.
- Our teacher is thorough and explains every step.
total or absolute; used for emphasis
Used to show that something is complete or very strong in a certain way, often in a bad way.
a thorough [mess/disgrace/waste/nuisance]
- The meeting turned out to be a thorough waste of time.
- By the end of the game, their defeat was a thorough humiliation.
- The kitchen was a thorough mess after the party.
- His behavior at the event was a thorough disgrace.
- The new policy is a thorough failure and needs to be rewritten.
- The exam was a thorough disaster for me.
- That movie was a thorough waste of money.
- After the storm, the garden was a thorough mess.
- The plan was a thorough failure, so we started again.
- Her lie was a thorough shock to her friends.
- Base: thorough
a thorough investigation
1very detailed investigation of something
An investigation where all facts and details are checked in a careful and complete way.
- The company promised a thorough investigation into the data breach.
- Only a thorough investigation will show what really happened.
a thorough search
1very careful and complete search
A search where every place or part is checked very carefully.
- The police carried out a thorough search of the building.
- After a thorough search of the house, they finally found the passport.
a thorough understanding
1very complete understanding of something
Knowing something very well, with a complete and deep understanding.
- You need a thorough understanding of the rules before you start the job.
- The course gives students a thorough understanding of basic economics.
be thorough
1do something very carefully and fully
To do something in a very complete and careful way so that you do not miss anything.
- When you check the contracts, please be thorough.
- Good scientists must be thorough when they record their results.
- If you want to pass the audit, you need to be thorough with your paperwork.
do a thorough job
1work carefully and completely
To do some work in a very complete and careful way.
- They did a thorough job painting the house.
- If you do a thorough job now, you won’t have to fix it later.
thorough to a fault
1so thorough it is sometimes a problem
Very thorough, in a way that can sometimes be too much or cause small problems.
- He’s thorough to a fault, checking every email three times before sending it.
- Her notes are thorough to a fault, with details most people don’t need.