fathom

1 of 2

noun

fath·om ˈfa-t͟həm How to pronounce fathom (audio)

: a unit of length equal to six feet (1.83 meters) used especially for measuring the depth of water

—sometimes used in the singular when qualified by a number

five fathom deep

: comprehension

the themes display a newer fathom than the technical modernism of the composer's earlier works

Newsweek

fathom

2 of 2

verb

fathomed; fathoming; fathoms

intransitive verb

: probe

: to take soundings

transitive verb

: to measure by a sounding line

: to penetrate and come to understand

couldn't fathom the problem

fathomable

ˈfa-t͟hə-mə-bəl How to pronounce fathom (audio)

adjective

Did you know?

Did fathom Always Refer to a Measurement?

Fathom comes from Old English fæthm, meaning "outstretched arms." The noun fathom, which now commonly refers to a measure (especially of depth) of six feet, was originally used for the distance, fingertip to fingertip, created by stretching one's arms straight out from the sides of the body. In one of its earliest uses, the verb fathom was a synonym of our modern embrace: to fathom someone was to clasp the person in your arms. By the 1600s fathom had taken to the seas, as the verb was used to mean "to measure by a sounding line." At the same time, the verb also developed senses synonymous with probe or investigate, and it is now frequently used to refer to the act of getting to the bottom of something, figuratively speaking.

Example Sentences

Noun The water here is five fathoms deep. Verb the pilot had to continually fathom the river, which drought conditions had lowered to unprecedented levels

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Musk’s tumble only underscores the hard-to-fathom velocity of his ascent.

Devon Pendleton, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2021 But in today’s world of restrictions on size, quantity and season, releasing reef fish has become part of our new reality—as are the challenges of ensuring postrelease survival for an animal pulled up from 20 fathoms.

Popular Science, 11 Feb. 2020 That impulse, growing out of one pivotal song, eventually pointed the way to the fathoms of Ocean, the group’s new album, their seventh, which debuts Friday.

Nancy Kruh, PEOPLE.com, 15 Nov. 2019 The lines were marked at two, three, five, seven, 10, 13, 15, 17 and 20 fathoms.

Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2019 The submarine is recorded in 1,805 fathoms of water, or 8,310 feet, and makes a test dive.

Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 7 Jan. 2019 Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon - Nearshore (inside 40 fathoms) opens May 7; Mondays to Wednesdays until 500 pounds are caught or Sept. 30.

Bill Monroe, OregonLive.com, 20 Apr. 2018 Get ready to be terrified by the mysterious fathoms below!

Laura Beck, Cosmopolitan, 27 Jan. 2018 More than 200 years later, our low tide was at the same time Cook's high had been, and 4 fathoms — 24 feet — was an understatement.

Erin Mckittrick, Alaska Dispatch News, 15 Sep. 2017

Verb

The relatives cannot fathom a rational person switching sides – and now dreaming impossible Bengal dreams.

Mike Bass, The Enquirer, 28 July 2022 Following each passing, the Thread became a place to express our grief, to memorialize our brothers and, in time, to fathom ways to endure.

New York Times, 23 Sep. 2021 While space hotels might be hard to fathom, plans for this life-changing invention are well on their way, with space companies such as Orbital Assembly on track to open their doors for people before the end of this decade.

WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 So much so that, today’s young girls can’t even fathom not being able to play their sports or go to medical school.

Jordan Ligons, Essence, 21 June 2022 The fact that Saget, who died yesterday in Florida at age 65, won’t be around for either a cure or for that celebratory conversation is something Evnin can’t fathom.

Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2022 This might be hard to fathom, but training your chest shouldn't be solely focused on exercises that target the chest.

Jeff Tomko, Men's Health, 26 July 2022 Hard to fathom the blatant stupidity that went behind the Raiders’ decision to organize a group-stomp on the Chiefs’ logo before the game at Kansas City (a 48-9 loss).

Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Dec. 2021 More important is the large-scale disruption of lives, which would be hard to fathom.

Michael Smolenscolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2022 See More

单词	fathomable
释义	fathom 1 of 2 noun fath·om ˈfa-t͟həm 1 : a unit of length equal to six feet (1.83 meters) used especially for measuring the depth of water —sometimes used in the singular when qualified by a number five fathom deep 2 : comprehension the themes display a newer fathom than the technical modernism of the composer's earlier works Newsweek fathom 2 of 2 verb fathomed; fathoming; fathoms intransitive verb 1 : probe 2 : to take soundings transitive verb 1 : to measure by a sounding line 2 : to penetrate and come to understand couldn't fathom the problem fathomable ˈfa-t͟hə-mə-bəl adjective Did you know? Did fathom Always Refer to a Measurement? Fathom comes from Old English fæthm, meaning "outstretched arms." The noun fathom, which now commonly refers to a measure (especially of depth) of six feet, was originally used for the distance, fingertip to fingertip, created by stretching one's arms straight out from the sides of the body. In one of its earliest uses, the verb fathom was a synonym of our modern embrace: to fathom someone was to clasp the person in your arms. By the 1600s fathom had taken to the seas, as the verb was used to mean "to measure by a sounding line." At the same time, the verb also developed senses synonymous with probe or investigate, and it is now frequently used to refer to the act of getting to the bottom of something, figuratively speaking. Synonyms Verb plumb sound See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun The water here is five fathoms deep. Verb the pilot had to continually fathom the river, which drought conditions had lowered to unprecedented levels Recent Examples on the Web Noun Musk’s tumble only underscores the hard-to-fathom velocity of his ascent. Devon Pendleton, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2021 But in today’s world of restrictions on size, quantity and season, releasing reef fish has become part of our new reality—as are the challenges of ensuring postrelease survival for an animal pulled up from 20 fathoms. Popular Science, 11 Feb. 2020 That impulse, growing out of one pivotal song, eventually pointed the way to the fathoms of Ocean, the group’s new album, their seventh, which debuts Friday. Nancy Kruh, PEOPLE.com, 15 Nov. 2019 The lines were marked at two, three, five, seven, 10, 13, 15, 17 and 20 fathoms. Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2019 The submarine is recorded in 1,805 fathoms of water, or 8,310 feet, and makes a test dive. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 7 Jan. 2019 Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon - Nearshore (inside 40 fathoms) opens May 7; Mondays to Wednesdays until 500 pounds are caught or Sept. 30. Bill Monroe, OregonLive.com, 20 Apr. 2018 Get ready to be terrified by the mysterious fathoms below! Laura Beck, Cosmopolitan, 27 Jan. 2018 More than 200 years later, our low tide was at the same time Cook's high had been, and 4 fathoms — 24 feet — was an understatement. Erin Mckittrick, Alaska Dispatch News, 15 Sep. 2017 Verb The relatives cannot fathom a rational person switching sides – and now dreaming impossible Bengal dreams. Mike Bass, The Enquirer, 28 July 2022 Following each passing, the Thread became a place to express our grief, to memorialize our brothers and, in time, to fathom ways to endure. New York Times, 23 Sep. 2021 While space hotels might be hard to fathom, plans for this life-changing invention are well on their way, with space companies such as Orbital Assembly on track to open their doors for people before the end of this decade. WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 So much so that, today’s young girls can’t even fathom not being able to play their sports or go to medical school. Jordan Ligons, Essence, 21 June 2022 The fact that Saget, who died yesterday in Florida at age 65, won’t be around for either a cure or for that celebratory conversation is something Evnin can’t fathom. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2022 This might be hard to fathom, but training your chest shouldn't be solely focused on exercises that target the chest. Jeff Tomko, Men's Health, 26 July 2022 Hard to fathom the blatant stupidity that went behind the Raiders’ decision to organize a group-stomp on the Chiefs’ logo before the game at Kansas City (a 48-9 loss). Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Dec. 2021 More important is the large-scale disruption of lives, which would be hard to fathom. Michael Smolenscolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2022 See More Word History Etymology Noun and Verb Middle English fadme, from Old English fæthm outstretched arms, length of the outstretched arms; akin to Old Norse fathmr fathom, Latin patēre to be open, pandere to spread out, Greek petannynai First Known Use Noun before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 1607, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Kids Definition fathom 1 of 2 noun fath·om ˈfa-t͟həm : a unit of length equal to six feet (about 1.8 meters) used chiefly in measuring the depth of water fathom 2 of 2 verb fathomed; fathoming 1 : to understand the reason for something I couldn't fathom how he escaped punishment. 2 : to measure the depth of water by means of a special line fathomable adjective as in understandable capable of being understood acts of vandalism that were committed for no fathomable reason Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance understandable comprehensible accessible graspable intelligible apprehensible comprehendible scrutable coherent legible decipherable simple straightforward articulate plain fluent well-spoken Antonyms & Near Antonyms incomprehensible incoherent inscrutable obscure mysterious esoteric insensible inarticulate cryptic See More
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fathom

noun

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

noun

verb

adjective