# exhaustive

/ɪɡˈzɔstɪv/ (US) · /ɛɡzˈɔːstɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exhaustive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. thorough and complete

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

including every possible detail or part so that nothing is left out.

For teachers: including every possible element; fully comprehensive and thorough in scope.

- The police conducted an exhaustive search of the house but found nothing.
- After an exhaustive review of the scientific literature, the researchers concluded that no further trials were necessary at this stage.

Usage: Usually placed before a noun like 'search', 'list', 'report', or 'study'.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'exhausting'. Remind them that 'exhaustive' describes the completeness of a task, not the physical fatigue of the person doing it.

### 2. tiring

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic

making you feel very tired or using up all your energy.

For teachers: tending to exhaust; causing fatigue or depletion of resources.

- The soldiers found the long march through the mud to be exhaustive.
- The exhaustive nature of the climb left the expedition members unable to continue without a full day of rest.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern English; 'exhausting' is the standard choice for this meaning today.

## Examples

- The police conducted an exhaustive search of the building.
- After an exhaustive review of the evidence, the committee concluded that no further action was necessary.
- The researchers published an exhaustive study of the local ecosystem, documenting every plant and animal species found within the valley over a ten-year period.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.