Pronunciation coach
Fathom
Sounds like
fathum
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Simple meaning
What does Fathom mean?
Fathom means to understand deeply or measure water depth.
Dictionary definition
To understand something deeply; also a unit used to measure water depth.
Example sentences
Fathom in a sentence
easy
I cannot fathom why the door was left open.
medium
Sailors once measured depth in fathoms.
hard
Readers must fathom the character's motives by using clues from the text.
Synonyms
Words like Fathom
understandUse when fathom means to figure out meaning.
graspUse for understanding an idea.
Antonyms
Opposite words
misunderstandUse for getting the meaning wrong.
ignoreUse for paying no attention.
Word family
Fathom word family
Base word
fathom
verb
fathoms
Understands or units of depth.
verb
fathomed
Understood in the past.
verb
fathomless
Too deep or mysterious to measure or understand.
Related words
Explore related words
Quick practice
Try Fathom
Practice 1
What does fathom mean?
Fathom means to understand deeply or measure water depth.
Practice 2
Which word is closest in meaning to fathom?
Understand is close in meaning to fathom in the right context.
Practice 3
Which word is an antonym of fathom?
Misunderstand contrasts with fathom.
Practice this skill
Practice vocabulary in WordHive
Use the dictionary to understand Fathom, then move into short activities matched to the skills on this page.
Learning paths
- Define the Word Hive for word meanings.
- Synonym Search for word choice.
- Context Clue Challenge for sentence clues.
- Buzz Between for homophones and listening.
- Hive Builder for roots, prefixes, and suffixes.