Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Exhaustive /ĭg-zôs'-tĭv/ · Ex·haust·ive · IPA /ɪɡˈzɔ.stɪv/ 01 a. Serving or tending to exhaust; exhibiting all the facts or arguments; as, an exhaustive method. 1. Serving or tending to exhaust; exhibiting all the facts or arguments; as, an exhaustive method.