fathom
Verbfathoms, fathoming, fathomed
Noun pluralfathoms
Formsfathoms, fathoming, fathomed
Pluralfathoms
- 1To understand something hard or puzzling after thinking about it, as in 'I can't fathom why he left.'
My grandma could never fathom how the internet works.
She tried to fathom out what the strange note meant.
UsageOften followed by why, what or how: fathom how it works.
Similarunderstand, comprehend, grasp, unravel
Note
- 2A measure of length equal to six feet (about 1.8 meters), mostly used for how deep water is.
The sailors dropped the anchor in ten fathoms of water.
Full fadom fiue thy Father lies, Of his bones are Corrall made: Those are pearles that were his eies, Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a Sea-change Into someting rich, & strange
1610, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”Here, fadom means fathoms, a unit of six feet used for water depth.Note
- 3
Less common meanings
- 4A depth with no exact number given, usually used in the plural.
Her true feelings were hidden fathoms deep.
Her worry was buried fathoms deep, but she smiled all through the party.
UsageOften said as fathoms deep.
Similardepth
- 5A way to say how far from shore you are, by how deep the water is there.
At fifty fathoms, the waters of the Southern Ocean are dark blue.
1983, Richard Ellis, “The Predators”Here, fifty fathoms means out where the water is fifty fathoms deep.After we'd rowed for an hour, we found ourselves stranded ten fathoms from shore.
Here, ten fathoms from shore means where the water is ten fathoms deep.Note
- 6How deeply a person can understand things, or how far their mind can reach.
Note
- 7Control or power over something or someone.
Note
- 8To reach your arms around something, mainly to measure how thick or long it is.
Note
- 9Stretching your arms straight out to the sides, so they make one straight line.
Note
- 10A person or thing that someone hugs or holds in their arms.
Note
- 11To hug someone or something.
Note
Showing meanings only.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of fathom apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origins
From an Old English word for a person's outstretched arms, which became a measure of about six feet.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Fathom derives from an Old English word meaning outstretched arms. en.wikipedia.org
- The armspan became a measure of approximately six feet. en.wiktionary.org
From an Old English verb meaning "to hold in your arms", from a word for outstretched arms.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts
- The verb fathom descends from an Old English verb, fæþmian (also spelled fæðmian). en.wiktionary.org
- The Old English verb meant to embrace, equivalent to holding in one's arms. en.wikisource.org
- The verb derives from a word meaning outstretched arms. en.wiktionary.org
- The underlying noun fæþm meant outstretched arms. en.wiktionary.org