fathom out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fathom out" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to understand or figure out something that is difficult or complex. Example: After hours of studying the math problem, I finally managed to fathom out the solution.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

I cannot fathom out why we can't see each other as human beings.

The Guardian

He would lie awake at night in Whitley, in the Reading suburbs, trying to fathom out infinity.

The Guardian

Each choice is hard, and I expect to work hard to fathom out what seems to me to be good.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pulis says few things annoy him more than watching games where he struggles to fathom out what a team is trying to achieve.

The Guardian - Sport

For all my contemporaries, the appeal was to fathom out what kind of childhoods they had, to find what's in the soul.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

That brought a nice riposte of "Where's your European Cups?" from the Kop, but on the pitch the home team were finding it difficult to fathom out what their opponents were scheming.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The intriguing attributes of Bats; how it strives to take up its prey, are fathomed out and been adopted in problem solving.

Procedia Computer Science

Retta Riordan stands more of a chance than most ordinary voters of fathoming out what is at stake.

The Guardian

The need to capture hearts as well as minds was something he learnt when fathoming out how to manage Kristy Hill, one of the team's Maori leaders.

The Guardian - Sport

Guest, meanwhile, has endorsed Marshall amplifiers in character as Tufnel, which boggles the mind: a mythic rock star famed for being so stupid he hasn't actually fathomed out how the volume knob on an amplifier works, being paid to recommend amplifiers to other musicians.

The Guardian - Music

It's one of those crazy situations, it's so unfortunate, we're just trying to fathom it out".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fathom out" when you want to emphasize the effort required to understand something complex or obscure.

Common error

While "fathom out" is acceptable, consider using a more formal synonym like "comprehend" or "understand" in academic or professional contexts to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fathom out" is that of a transitive phrasal verb. It requires an object, representing what is being understood or figured out. The Ludwig AI confirms that it's correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fathom out" is a commonly used phrasal verb that means to understand or figure something out, particularly when it involves complexity or difficulty. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and suitable for written English. It's frequently found in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and business writing, albeit with a slightly less formal tone than its single-word synonyms. Alternatives include "figure out", "work out" and "understand", with the best choice depending on the specific context and desired level of formality. Therefore, use "fathom out" confidently, keeping in mind its nuanced meaning and register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

figure out

This alternative is more common and slightly less formal.

work out

This alternative implies a process of solving or discovering.

understand

This is a simpler and more direct alternative.

make sense of

This alternative emphasizes the process of comprehension.

get to the bottom of

This alternative implies uncovering the truth or root cause.

decipher

This alternative suggests interpreting something cryptic or obscure.

resolve

This alternative implies solving a problem or clarifying a doubt.

grasp

This alternative conveys a firm understanding.

comprehend

This alternative is a more formal synonym for understand.

puzzle out

This alternative emphasizes a slow and thoughtful understanding.

FAQs

How to use "fathom out" in a sentence?

"Fathom out" is a phrasal verb that means to understand or figure something out, especially when it's complex. For example, "It took me a while to "fathom out" the instructions."

What can I say instead of "fathom out"?

You can use alternatives like "figure out", "work out", or simply "understand" depending on the context.

Is "fathom out" formal or informal?

"Fathom out" is generally considered less formal than its single-word synonyms like "comprehend". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when choosing between them.

What's the difference between "fathom out" and "figure out"?

While both phrases mean to understand something, "fathom out" often implies a greater degree of complexity or difficulty in the process of understanding compared to "figure out".