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Synonyms

fishing

American  
[fish-ing] / ˈfɪʃ ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of catching fish.

    Fishing is not allowed in this park.

  2. the technique, occupation, or diversion of catching fish.

    A day at sea with Floyd has greatly improved my fishing.

  3. the conditions for catching fish.

    The fishing is exceptionally good today.

  4. Archaic. a place or facility for catching fish.


fishing British  
/ ˈfɪʃɪŋ /

noun

    1. the occupation of catching fish

    2. ( as modifier )

      a fishing match

  1. another word for piscary

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fishing

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fisshing; see origin at fish, -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing fishing

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.

For fishing communities in South America, there is the risk of smaller catches.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

The end was drawing near in a nine-year fight for justice, in a case of modern slavery on a Scottish fishing trawler.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Three months ago, the only thing John Tortorella planned to do in the spring was purchase a 24-foot motorboat to take his grandchildren fishing in Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Within hours of carrying the first telegram across the English Channel in 1850, the earliest “submarine telegraph”—27 miles of copper wire wrapped in a rubbery substance called gutta percha—was broken by a fishing trawler.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

They were a good size—tilapia and other species I knew from the fishing work.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

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