fathoming

present participle of fathom
as in plumbing
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

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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 fathoming Advertisement Svetlana’s optimistic pretend normalcy and Lyudmila’s practical approach to medication point to impossibility of fathoming the many crushing consequences of the Ukraine crisis. Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fathoming
Verb
  • Juergen Teller, fashion’s most subversive photographer, known for his dark wit and stark images, has been plumbing the depths — of love, religion, friendship and family.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The home also arrives pre-installed with energy-efficient LED fixtures, 110V electrical outlets, and plumbing too—to take one more thing off your plate.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • According to the team, the research emphasizes the value of combining CFD modeling with small-scale field testing, especially when scaling up to large alpine PV plants.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
  • This is a continuation of the company’s retail expansions — before launching its direct-to-consumer website earlier this year, the platform built up partnerships with Jared, Selfridges, and Dubai’s Duty Free, scaling to more than 100 wholesale doors.
    Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fathoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fathoming. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

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