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 Mike Heller couldn’t fathom Hollywood Hardware’s sign going to waste. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2026 The amount of love and support from our Colorado Springs community and beyond is overwhelming to fathom. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 22 June 2026 But the truth is all of these deals are tough to fathom, given the tough legal road around broadcast rules, the already-consolidating marketplace and the realpolitik involved. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026 Its scale — a thousand times more than a billion — is difficult to fathom for those of us who aren’t among the 3,363 billionaires that currently exist in our world. — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fathom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fathom
  1. plumb
  2. scale
  3. span
Verb
  • But even as Moon landings, space shuttles, and reusable rockets seized the headlines, Link, along with a stubborn handful of engineers, explorers, and flat-out dreamers, kept plumbing the ocean instead.
    — Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
  • And eastern Anatolia, where the Iranian gas actually lands, was plumbed for flows from the east.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of plumb
Verb
  • The pair is also known for scaling buildings around the world.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Since relocating to Los Angeles, Gonzalez’s small downtown team has scaled Happy Organics into a design-forward brand carried by major retailers, anchored in local maker communities and a sense of purpose.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of scale
Verb
  • Along with performances from artists spanning country, pop and R&B, viewers can experience a massive fireworks and drone show choreographed to a live score by the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Nadal has long been laying the foundation for a business portfolio that spans health, sport and education.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 3 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fathom

Nglish: Translation of fathom for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fathom

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