Word
thoroughly
Phoneticsthor·ough·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈθɝoʊɫi/
UK/θˈʌɹəli/
日本語じっくり※
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a very careful and complete way so that nothing is forgotten. You use this when you want to say you did something from start to finish with great attention to detail.
adv. in a comprehensive and exhaustive manner; to the fullest extent possible. Often used to modify verbs of investigation, cleaning, or emotional states.
Examples
“She cleaned the kitchen thoroughly before the guests arrived.”
“The police searched the building thoroughly but found no evidence of a break-in.”
“Before signing the contract, the legal team reviewed every clause thoroughly to ensure there were no hidden liabilities that could jeopardize the merger.”
Examples
simple
“She cleaned the kitchen thoroughly before the guests arrived.”
contextual
“The police searched the building thoroughly but found no evidence of a break-in.”
complex
“Before signing the contract, the legal team reviewed every clause thoroughly to ensure there were no hidden liabilities that could jeopardize the merger.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “thoroughly” in context.
Verb
01. read the contract thoroughly
“Make sure you read the contract thoroughly before you sign your name at the bottom.”
verb + noun + adv
02. thoroughly clean the kitchen
“She decided to thoroughly clean the kitchen before the guests arrived for dinner.”
adv + verb + noun
03. thoroughly enjoy the performance
“We thoroughly enjoyed the performance and gave the actors a standing ovation.”
adv + verb + noun
04. thoroughly investigate the matter
“The police promised to thoroughly investigate the matter before making any arrests.”
adv + verb + noun
05. wash the vegetables thoroughly
“You should wash the vegetables thoroughly to remove any traces of pesticides.”
verb + noun + adv
Adjective
06. thoroughly ashamed of his behavior
“He felt thoroughly ashamed of his behavior at the party last night.”
adv + adj + prep + noun
07. thoroughly confused by the instructions
“The students were thoroughly confused by the instructions on the exam paper.”
adv + adj + prep + noun
08. thoroughly professional
“The medical staff were thoroughly professional throughout the entire procedure.”
adv + adj
Usage
Typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause; can also precede the main verb for emphasis.
Pitfall
I thoroughly the book read
I read the book thoroughly
While 'thoroughly' can precede the verb, it cannot sit between the subject and the verb if the sentence structure is disrupted; it most naturally follows the object.
Real-World Examples
“Yes, cooking eggs and other food thoroughly can prevent infection.” “Jacquelyn McCormick, Head of Incidents at the Food Standards Agency, said eggs which are thoroughly cooked and handled hygienically should not present a food safety risk.” Etymology
From thorough + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/thoroughly
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0