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fathom

verb

Definition of fathomnext
as in to plumb
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line the pilot had to continually fathom the river, which drought conditions had lowered to unprecedented levels

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fathom Before scientists formulated their research, poets and naturalists had fathomed features of this intelligence. — Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026 The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders officially have competition on the content front which is hard to even fathom. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 One sketch in particular has Jimmy Kimmel playing a man who can’t fathom a president trying to seek more than two terms. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026 Of course, the average person can't fathom this. — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fathom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fathom
  1. plumb
  2. scale
  3. span
Verb
  • There is no reading of the statute under which enforcing the Building Code includes plumbing a restaurant’s kitchen.
    — Fabiola Stuyvesant, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Capital Engineering, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering firm the district has worked with in the past, has been tapped to help assess the district’s losses and develop a plan for remedying the issue.
    — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of plumb
Verb
  • All onshore experiences are locally guided, offered in small groups, and scaled to different activity levels.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Yet at an event on Thursday, Huang displayed unwavering confidence, projecting that Nvidia's chip sales will double next year as nations and corporations continue scaling up AI investments.
    — , CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of scale
Verb
  • Conceived by the airline’s in-house team in collaboration with design agency MARKS Brandimage, the lounge will span two levels and offer seating for more than 400 guests.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026
  • During the trial, Hedrick cast doubt on Turner’s hacking claim because the material spanned several months and evidence was found on several phone applications.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of span

Browse Nearby Words

fathers (on)
fathom
fathomable
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Cite this Entry

“Fathom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fathom. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fathom

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fathom

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