Exhaustive
/ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/
Definitions
Including or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive.
/ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/
Thorough and complete, covering all aspects or details.
The team performed an exhaustive analysis of the data.
💡 Simply: It's like when you're looking for something, and you check EVERYWHERE – under the bed, in the closet, behind the couch – until you find it. An exhaustive search is doing *everything* to find all the answers or details.
👶 For kids: When you look at all the things to find an answer or solve a problem, you are being exhaustive.
More Examples
She wrote an exhaustive guide to birdwatching.
The government conducted an exhaustive review of the program.
How It's Used
"The researcher conducted an exhaustive study of the subject."
"The lawyer presented an exhaustive list of evidence."
"The investigative report provided an exhaustive account of the events."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From the Latin *exhaurīre* 'to draw out, empty', from *ex-* 'out' + *haurīre* 'to draw'. The word developed to mean 'thorough' and 'complete' as it implied the drawing out of all relevant information or elements.
The word 'exhaustive' gained prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in scientific and academic writing, reflecting the increasing emphasis on thoroughness and completeness in research and analysis.
Memory tip
Imagine an empty container (the subject) being completely filled with all possible items (details).
Word Origin
"to draw out, empty"