Illustration of fish
- 1 mandible
- 2 nasal opening
- 3 eye
- 4 cheek
- 5 operculum
- 6 dorsal fins
- 7 lateral line
- 8 caudal fin
- 9 scales
- 10 anal fin
- 11 anus
- 12 pectoral fin
- 13 pelvic fin
- 14 maxilla
- 15 premaxilla
- 16 upper jaw
plural fish or fishes
often attributive
1
a
: an aquatic animal
—usually used in combination
starfish
cuttlefish
b
: any of numerous cold-blooded strictly aquatic craniate vertebrates that include the bony fishes and usually the cartilaginous and jawless fishes and that have typically an elongated somewhat spindle-shaped body terminating in a broad caudal (see caudal sense 2) fin, limbs in the form of fins when present at all, and a 2-chambered heart by which blood is sent through thoracic gills to be oxygenated
freshwater fish
tropical fish
2
: the flesh of fish used as food
We're having fish for dinner.
3
a
: a person who is caught or is wanted (as in a criminal investigation)
c
: sucker sense 5a
felt sorry for the poor fish
4
: something that resembles a fish: such as
a
b
: torpedo sense 1b
The submarine's fish hit the freighter.
fished; fishing; fishes
1
: to catch or attempt to catch fish
2
: to seek something by roundabout means
fishing for a compliment
3
a
: to search for something underwater
fish for pearls
b
: to engage in a search by groping or feeling
fishing around in her purse for her keys
1
a
: to catch or try to catch fish in
fishing the stream
b
: to fish with : use (something, such as a boat, a net, or bait) in fishing
Fishing a fly … often produces a series of multiple hits …—
Nelson Bryant
Nelson Bryant2
a
: to go fishing for
fish salmon
b
: to pull or draw as if fishing
fished the ball from under the car
fish wires through a conduit
Examples of fish in a Sentence
Noun
We're having fish for dinner.
he's rather an odd fish
Verb
We spent the afternoon fishing for trout.
They fished the stream all morning.
She was fishing around in her purse for her keys.
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
More than a century later, the tradition endures; the particularly deep waters of Boca Grande Pass—the channel between Gasparilla Island and Cayo Costa—naturally funnel in the massive migratory fish until the channel teems with tarpon, and anglers come from all over to participate.
—Staff Author, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Nov. 2025
Poke around Gasparilla Road, East Railroad Avenue, and Park Avenue before exploring Gasparilla Island State Park, where the 1890 Port Boca Grande Lighthouse doubles as a maritime museum chronicling island history from phosphate to fishing.
—Staff Author, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fish
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Expedia’s Fish says that those who booked in advance still benefitted from that price drop — some hotels listed on Expedia lowered their prices by up to 50% for late September stays booked in advance, compared to their prices in July and August.
—Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
More than a century later, the tradition endures; the particularly deep waters of Boca Grande Pass—the channel between Gasparilla Island and Cayo Costa—naturally funnel in the massive migratory fish until the channel teems with tarpon, and anglers come from all over to participate.
—Staff Author, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025
Verb
His daughter testified that her dad took her to plays and concerts, and taught her to fish, hunt, roller skate, appreciate nature, and respect her country, The Item reported in 2008.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Nov. 2025
Poke around Gasparilla Road, East Railroad Avenue, and Park Avenue before exploring Gasparilla Island State Park, where the 1890 Port Boca Grande Lighthouse doubles as a maritime museum chronicling island history from phosphate to fishing.
—Staff Author, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fish
Cite this Entry
“Fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fish. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fish
1 of 2 noun
plural fish or fishes
1
a
: a water-dwelling animal
—usually used in combination
starfish
cuttlefish
b
: a cold-blooded vertebrate animal with a typically long scaly tapering body, limbs developed as fins, and a vertical tail fin that lives and breathes in water
2
: the flesh of fish used as food
fish
2 of 2 verb1
: to catch or try to catch fish
2
a
: to catch or try to catch fish in
fish the stream
b
: to search for something underwater
fishing for pearls
3
: to seek something by or as if by groping or feeling
fished for compliments
fished in his pocket for change
Biographical Definition
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