meticulously

meticulously — adverb

1. carried out with extreme thoroughness, giving full focus to even the smallest el

1.adverbC1
Definition

carried out with extreme thoroughness, giving full focus to even the smallest elements so that nothing is missed

Example

Leila meticulously checked every name on the guest list before the ceremony.

collocation: meticulously check

The chef meticulously arranged each slice of fish on the wooden board.

Common collocations
  • meticulously check
  • meticulously plan
  • meticulously arrange
  • meticulously clean
  • meticulously examine
  • meticulously document
  • meticulously prepare
  • meticulously restore
Synonyms
  • carefully

    more general and less intense; the everyday word for avoiding mistakes

  • thoroughly

    emphasises completeness — covering every part of a task — rather than attention to small details

  • painstakingly

    the closest synonym; adds a sense of slow, effortful labour to the precision

  • precisely

    focuses on exactness and accuracy rather than completeness or thoroughness

Antonyms
  • carelessly

    opposite extreme — without any attention or caution

  • haphazardly

    in a disorganised, random way with no plan or system

Usage Note

Commonly modifies verbs of checking, planning, arranging, examining, or preparing. Stronger than 'carefully' — it implies that no detail, however small, is overlooked or done without full attention.

Common Mistakes

She meticulously drove to work.
She meticulously checked each tyre before the long drive.
'meticulously' fits actions that involve managing many small details, not routine activities.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Carefully is the most general and common word, used whenever attention is paid to avoid mistakes. Thoroughly focuses on completeness — covering every part of the task rather than every small detail. Painstakingly is the closest synonym to meticulously; it carries the same idea of slow, effortful attention, but emphasises the labour more than the precision. Precisely concentrates on exactness and accuracy — getting measurements, words, or positions exactly right. Meticulously draws all of these together: it means doing something with such deep attention to detail that nothing, however small, is missed or wrong. For example, a painter might carefully apply colour to the canvas, thoroughly cover every corner, painstakingly add fine brushstrokes, and precisely match the tones — but only a meticulously restored fresco truly suggests that no single detail was overlooked.

carefully ↗thoroughly ↗painstakingly ↗precisely ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • meticulously check something
  • meticulously plan something
  • meticulously examine something
  • meticulously prepare something
  • meticulously restore something

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The adverb 'meticulously' comes from the adjective 'meticulous', which traces back to the Latin word 'metus' meaning 'fear'. In Latin, 'meticulosus' described someone who was afraid — and therefore extremely careful to avoid mistakes. By the time the word entered English in the 1500s, the sense of fear had faded, leaving only the idea of paying such close attention to details that nothing could possibly go wrong.