Meaning & use
fathom
A unit of length equal to six feet, used mainly to measure the depth of water.
See it in a sentence
The sonar showed the wreck resting at a depth of forty fathoms.
Sailors once measured rope by the fathom before metric units took over.
A note on using this word
As a verb, 'fathom' almost always appears in negative constructions like 'couldn't fathom' or 'hard to fathom.'
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To understand something fully after much thought, usually used in negative statements.
I could not fathom why she suddenly quit her dream job.
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