fathom

4 synonyms for fathom, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A unit of length equal to six feet (about 1.8 metres), traditionally used to measure the depth of water.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

sound bottom

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

penetrate

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

fthm

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A unit of length equal to six feet (about 1.8 metres), traditionally used to measure the depth of water.

“The wreck lies at a depth of about forty fathoms.”

sound bottom penetrate fthm

2. verb

To understand something fully, especially something puzzling or complicated.

“I still can't fathom why he quit such a great job.”

sound penetrate bottom

How to use fathom

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

fathom out hard to fathom unable to fathom

Etymology

From Old English fæþm, originally meaning "outstretched arms" or "embrace" — the span of a person's arms was once used to measure length.

Full origin of fathom →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fathom” mean?

The word “fathom” means a unit of length equal to six feet (about 1.8 metres), traditionally used to measure the depth of water. In plain terms, either a nautical unit of depth, or (more commonly today) to fully understand something confusing.

How do you pronounce “fathom”?

“Fathom” is pronounced FATHM (/ˈfæðəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “fathom” in a sentence?

Here is “fathom” used in a sentence: “The wreck lies at a depth of about forty fathoms.”

What part of speech is “fathom”?

Depending on how it is used, “fathom” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “fathom” come from?

The word “fathom” comes from Old English. From Old English fæþm, originally meaning "outstretched arms" or "embrace" — the span of a person's arms was once used to measure length.

Is “fathom” a common word?

“Fathom” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “fathom” have?

“Fathom” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a unit of length equal to six feet (about 1.8 metres), traditionally used to measure the depth of water.

Related words

deep six

People also searched

sound bottom penetrate

Nearby words

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