gründlich

Gründlich is a German adjective meaning thorough, meticulous, or complete in scope. It is used to describe actions, analyses, or preparations performed with care and depth. As an adverb, gründlich indicates that something is done in a thorough manner: Er hat das gründlich geprüft.

Etymology: The word derives from Grund meaning "ground" or "foundation" plus the suffix -lich, forming an adjective. The sense evolved to describe what is solidly based, well founded, or done with care; it is attested in Middle High German and remains common in modern German with the meaning "thorough."

Usage and synonyms: Gründlich is common in formal and everyday language. Collocations include gründliche Untersuchung, gründliche Vorbereitung, gründliche Reinigung, and gründlich erklärt. Related synonyms include sorgfältig, gewissenhaft, ausführlich, and detailliert. An antonym is oberflächlich; another is ungenau. The abstract noun form expressing the quality is Gründlichkeit (thoroughness).

Forms and nuance: Gründlich has the comparative and superlative forms gründlicher and am gründlichsten. As an adverb, it remains gründlich (Er hat das gründlich geprüft). The term conveys depth, completeness, and care, often with stronger emphasis than more general terms like sorgfältig.

Translations: English equivalents include "thorough," "meticulous," "careful," "exhaustive," and "in-depth," depending on context.