Detailed means including many small parts, facts, or pieces of information that help create a complete picture. When you write a detailed description of your summer vacation, you explain where you went, what you saw, who you met, what you ate, and how everything made you feel, rather than simply saying “It was fun.”

A detailed drawing of a tree shows individual leaves, the texture of the bark, and maybe even a bird's nest tucked in the branches, while a simple drawing might just show a brown trunk and a green circle for leaves. A detailed plan for a science project includes your hypothesis, materials list, step-by-step procedures, and how you'll measure your results.

When a teacher asks for a detailed answer, they want you to explain your thinking thoroughly, not just give a quick response. Detective stories often succeed or fail based on detailed observations: Sherlock Holmes notices the mud on someone's boots, the calluses on their fingers, and the slight tear in their coat, details that help him solve the mystery.