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fathoms

  • plural
    of fathom.
    fathom
    noun
    a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 meters): used chiefly in nautical measurements. fath
  • present tense form
    of fathom (3rd person singular).
    fathom
    noun
    a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 meters): used chiefly in nautical measurements. fath

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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DaCosta fathoms the deepest notes in Ibsen’s classic as though they were whale song, remixing them into her own ode to a woman who needs healthier hobbies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026

In the late 1800s the Yup’ik people from the Alaskan coast recorded building kayaks that were 2.5 fathoms long plus a cockpit, which was the length of an arm with a closed fist.

From Science Magazine ● May 31, 2023

“He’s playing it off. I don’t think he fathoms how bad this is. Shame on him. I hope he gets what he deserves.”

From Washington Times ● Jul. 6, 2021

And after some initial tests in the shallow water, the Thresher headed out to where the ocean was 1,400 fathoms, or a mile and half, deep.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 26, 2019

I will have lost two hundred fathoms of good Catalan cardel and the hooks and leaders.

From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway