fathom

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈfæðəm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈfæðəm/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(faᵺ′əm)

Inflections of 'fathom' (n):
fathoms
npl (All usages)
fathom
npl (Can be used as a collective plural—e.g. "The ship lies many fathom deep.")

Collocations for "fathom"


Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "fathom" in context.

WordReference English Collocations © 2025

fathom

ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.
n
  1. a fathom is [six feet, 180 centimeters]
  2. a fathom is a [shipping, nautical] term
  3. use fathoms to measure [depth, the water]
  4. the [depth] is measured in fathoms
  5. water [over, under] [fifty] fathoms (deep)
  6. submerged to [fifty] fathoms
  7. [fifty] fathoms under the [sea, surface]
v
  1. fathom the [meaning, point, reason, motive]
  2. [can't, couldn't, was unable to] fathom (it)
  3. [can't] fathom [what, why]
  4. fathom out [why, who, how, what, where]
  5. [impossible, difficult] to fathom
  6. fathom [an ocean, a pond, a sea]
'fathom' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
want - why - writing

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