Cool MateCompletely vs Thoroughly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Completely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Thoroughly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: Completely
| Completely | Thoroughly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈθʌrəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈθɜːrəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Totally or fully. | In a detailed and complete way. |
| Example | I completely forgot about the meeting today. | We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | completely agree, completely understand, completely satisfied, completely different, completely unaware | thoroughly enjoy, thoroughly check, thoroughly understand, thoroughly investigate, thoroughly cleanse |
| Antonyms | partially, incompletely, somewhat | superficially, partially, incompletely |
| Common mistakes | Using 'completely' without a verb or action., Confusing 'completely' with 'totally' in formal contexts., Saying 'completely' in casual situations where simpler words like 'really' might fit better. | Using 'through' instead of 'thoroughly'., Confusing it with 'thorough', which is an adjective., Misplacing it in a sentence or using it in informal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'completely' to emphasize the totality of an action or state. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but might sound overemphasized in casual conversation. | Use this word to describe actions done completely and carefully. It's suitable in both speaking and writing. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'really' or 'very' may be more common. |
Frequently asked questions: Completely vs Thoroughly
What's the difference between Completely and Thoroughly?
Completely: Totally or fully. Thoroughly: In a detailed and complete way.
Which is more common: Completely and Thoroughly?
Completely is the most common in everyday English.
Are Completely and Thoroughly the same CEFR level?
Completely: A2, Thoroughly: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Completely and Thoroughly interchangeably?
Not always. Completely and Thoroughly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.