English · Word Candidate

thorough

/ˈθʌɹə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: thorougher · thoroughest · thoroughs

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail.

Adjective

Examples

The Prime Minister announced a thorough investigation into the death of a father-of-two in police custody.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Utter; complete; absolute.

Adjective

Examples

Dr. Oldfield once said to me, 'You talk to me quite all right, but why is it that you never open your lips at a committee meeting? You are a drone.' I appreciated the banter. The bees are ever busy, the drone is a thorough idler.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A furrow between two ridges, to drain off the surface water.

NounRegister: UK

Examples

The Ignorance and Idleness of the Plowman, who either goes so shallow, or plows his Thoroughs so wide, or misses Part of the Ground.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “thorough” mean?

Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail.

Is “thorough” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.