Comprehensive
/ˌkɑːmprɪˈhensɪv/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Comprehensive describes something that covers everything important about a topic or situation. It means very complete and including many details so nothing important is left out. For example, a comprehensive report has all the necessary information.
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⚡ See It in Action
Including all or nearly all parts or details
- •The teacher gave a comprehensive explanation of the grammar rules.
- •The book offers a comprehensive guide to learning English.
- •We need a comprehensive plan to solve the problem.
Covering a wide range or scope
- •The insurance provides comprehensive coverage for accidents and theft.
- •The report gave a comprehensive overview of the company's finances.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "comprehensive" like "complete," but bigger and more detailed—it covers all parts, not just some.
- ✓Picture a big map that shows every street, park, and building in a city, not just the main roads.
- ✓It feels like when you study for a test and you learn everything, not just some parts.
- ✓Sounds like "com-pre-HEN-sive" → imagine a big hen (bird) that holds all the eggs (information) carefully in one place.
- ✓Imagine a school exam that tests every subject you learned, not just one topic—this is comprehensive.
- ✓NOT like "partial" (only some parts), comprehensive means you have the whole picture.
- ✓NOT like "simple" or "basic," comprehensive means very detailed and full.
- ✓NOT like "summary" (short version), comprehensive is the full, long, detailed version.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Thorough: very detailed and careful (Use when focusing on carefulness and detail)
- •Full: including everything (Use when emphasizing no parts are missing)
- •Extensive: large in amount or area (Use when talking about wide range or size)
- •Detailed: including many small parts or facts (Use when focusing on many small details)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "com-" (together, with) + "prehens" (from Latin "prehendere" meaning to grasp or take) + "-ive" (adjective suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin "comprehensivus," meaning able to grasp or include all parts
- •Historical development: Originally meaning to seize or take together, later used to mean including or understanding fully
- •Modern usage: Used to describe something that covers all parts, like reports, plans, or knowledge
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can something be too comprehensive, making it hard to understand? When might that happen?
•How does being comprehensive help when you want to learn or explain something well?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.A comprehensive report ___ all the important facts, so nothing is missing.
2.When studying, it is best to have a comprehensive understanding ___ just a few ideas.
3.Insurance that is comprehensive usually covers many types of ___, not just one.
4.Unlike a summary, a comprehensive explanation gives ___ details and examples.
5.A comprehensive plan must consider ___ possible problems before starting.
6.Sometimes, making something too comprehensive can make it ___ to follow.
7.To write a comprehensive essay, you need to research ___ sources and ideas.