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comprehensive

comprehensive

298 4.6
Covering almost everything to give a complete and detailed view
  • adjective
  • /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhɛnsɪv/
translation icon : integral
  • The teacher issued a comprehensive syllabus that included all topics for the upcoming semester.
  • a comprehensive approach
  • a comprehensive assessment
  • a comprehensive program

And ours is the most comprehensive symptom survey.

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Examples

  • A comprehensive list of your available classes?

  • "The study is probably not yet complete," he said, "but a fairly comprehensive picture emerges."

    Fiction book (1994)
  • But this is just a really great comprehensive guide.

  • Expect a comprehensive review in the morning.

  • And this is much more comprehensive and involved.

  • Welcome back to my channel and welcome to my comprehensive Hot Girls Guide to Summer.

  • You are looking at the most comprehensive bird's egg collection in the world.

  • All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it.

    Academic text (2011)
  • ACOs are meant to band doctors and hospitals together to provide comprehensive treatment for patients.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Research has shown that interventions must have a comprehensive HIV/AIDS education and intervention strategy to achieve maximum impact.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

complete
vscomprehensive
497 1.0

Having all needed parts and nothing missing

is nearly all parts or aspects rather than absolutely whole
extensive
vscomprehensive
330 4.1

Large in amount, range, or area

focuses on including nearly all elements rather than mere size
thorough
vscomprehensive
205 4.6

Shows careful attention to every detail and leaves nothing out

focuses on overall inclusion of parts rather than careful process
exhaustive
vscomprehensive
  • Formal
32 6.6

Including every part and detail

includes almost all parts but may allow rare exceptions
overarching
vscomprehensive
17 5.9

Including all parts of something

means including most aspects but not necessarily acting as a single rule
all-encompassing
vscomprehensive
12 6.0

Including everything and everyone in a single plan

is about including almost all elements rather than universal coverage
encyclopedic
vscomprehensive
7 7.2

Having very wide and complete knowledge of many subjects

emphasizes including most elements, not only breadth of topics

Antonyms

117 3.4

Not finished because some parts or steps are missing

Does not have all important parts

Compounds

1 6.9

A major exam that tests a student's knowledge of a whole subject, often needed to finish a degree

Insurance that covers many risks like damage, theft, and loss

A state school for children after primary school that accepts all abilities without selection by tests

How Complete

exhaustive
  • Formal
32 6.6
comprehensive
298 4.6
adequate
234 2.7
partial
203 3.4
limited
393 2.5

Surface Forms

comprehensive positive

Morphology

comprehensive = comprehend (semi-transparent) = comprehend + ive

The adjective is formed regularly from 'comprehend' + '-ive', but the common sense 'complete; including all' reflects a sense shift from 'understand' and may not be fully obvious to learners.

Etymology

Comprehensive comes from the Latin parts com- meaning 'together' and prehendere meaning 'to grasp'. Think of it as 'grasping everything together', so comprehensive means including all or nearly all parts of something.