thorough
gb/θˈɚoʊ/ us/θˈɚoʊ/
B2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
complete and detailed; covering everything
Done in a very careful and complete way so that nothing is missed.
Usage pattern:
a thorough [check/review/search/cleaning/examination]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'thorough' with 'though' or 'through' in writing because they look similar. Also, they may say 'very thorough check up' instead of 'very thorough check' or 'thorough check-up'; remember that 'thorough' already has a strong meaning, so 'very' is often not needed.
Synonyms
comprehensive (Often suggests wide range or full coverage, sometimes slightly more formal.)
|
exhaustive (Stronger and more formal; emphasizes that every possibility has been considered.)
|
in-depth (Common in everyday speech; focuses on detail and depth rather than just coverage.)
Antonyms
superficial (Suggests only looking at the surface without enough depth or detail.)
|
partial (Emphasizes that only part of the task or subject was covered, not all of it.)
Collocations
thorough investigation
|thorough search
|thorough check
|thorough cleaning
|thorough review
|thorough examination
Themes
work
|study
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- 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.
Learner examples
- 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.
adjective
B2
property
2
careful and serious in work
Careful and serious about doing all parts of a job well and not missing anything.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (a) thorough [worker/professional/person]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'He is very thorough in details' instead of 'He is very thorough with details' or 'He is very thorough' plus a noun like 'He is a very thorough worker.' Also, 'thorough' describes people or their approach, not time, so avoid phrases like 'a thorough long time.'
Synonyms
meticulous (Stronger and often more formal; stresses extreme attention to small details.)
|
conscientious (Focuses on doing what is right and doing work carefully out of a sense of duty.)
|
careful (More general and common; does not always imply complete coverage, just caution.)
Antonyms
careless (Describes someone who does not pay enough attention and makes mistakes.)
|
sloppy (Informal; suggests untidy, rushed work with many mistakes and little care.)
Collocations
a thorough worker
|a thorough professional
|thorough approach
|thorough preparation
|thorough attention to detail
Themes
work
|character
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- 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.
Learner examples
- 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.
adjective
C1
property
3
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.
Usage pattern:
a thorough [mess/disgrace/waste/nuisance]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat this emphatic sense like the 'careful and complete' sense and say things like 'a thorough good time.' In modern English, this use is usually with negative or critical nouns (mess, waste, failure), not positive ones.
Synonyms
absolute (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal or neutral in some contexts.)
|
complete (Common synonym; sometimes sounds a bit weaker or more neutral.)
|
utter (Very similar emphatic use, often slightly stronger or more emotional.)
Antonyms
slight (Opposite in degree; suggests only a small amount instead of something total.)
|
minor (Emphasizes that something is not serious or complete, the opposite of a 'thorough' problem or failure.)
Collocations
a thorough mess
|a thorough waste of time
|a thorough disgrace
|a thorough failure
|a thorough nuisance
Themes
evaluation
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- 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.
Learner examples
- 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.
Grammar
Dictionary form
thorough
IPA
GB/θˈɚoʊ/
US/θˈɚoʊ/
Syllables & stress
thor - ough (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (thor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: thorough
Word family
Core family
thoroughly
adverb B2
thoroughness
noun
Advanced or less common
thoroughgoing
adjective
Expressions
a thorough investigation
1/ə θˈɚoʊ ɪnvˌɛstəɡˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
very detailed investigation of something
An investigation where all facts and details are checked in a careful and complete way.
Examples
- The company promised a thorough investigation into the data breach.
- Only a thorough investigation will show what really happened.
a thorough search
1/ə θˈɚoʊ sˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
very careful and complete search
A search where every place or part is checked very carefully.
Examples
- 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
1/ə θˈɚoʊ ˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ/
fixed phrase
very complete understanding of something
Knowing something very well, with a complete and deep understanding.
Examples
- 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
1/bˈi θˈɚoʊ/
fixed phrase
do something very carefully and fully
To do something in a very complete and careful way so that you do not miss anything.
Examples
- 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
1/dˈu ə θˈɚoʊ d͡ʒˈɑb/
fixed phrase
work carefully and completely
To do some work in a very complete and careful way.
Examples
- 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
1/θˈɚoʊ tə ə fˈɔlt/
idiom
so thorough it is sometimes a problem
Very thorough, in a way that can sometimes be too much or cause small problems.
Examples
- 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.