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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

  2. 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; fish, -ing 1

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.

They face threats from vessel strikes to entanglement in fishing gear on their long migration routes.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Todd Meadows, a deckhand on one of the fishing vessels featured on the Emmy-winning reality series “Deadliest Catch,” died after he fell overboard into the Bering Sea.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

The £360m programme is designed to support fishing and seafood businesses and help revitalise coastal communities by improving skills and workforce retention.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

This, it said, was partially offset by declines in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

‘More holes than a fishing net,’ she said.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.