fish

1 of 2

noun

plural fish or fishes
often attributive
1
a
: an aquatic animal
usually used in combination
starfish
cuttlefish
b
: any of numerous cold-blooded strictly aquatic craniate vertebrates that include the bony fishes and usually the cartilaginous and jawless fishes and that have typically an elongated somewhat spindle-shaped body terminating in a broad caudal (see caudal sense 2) fin, limbs in the form of fins when present at all, and a 2-chambered heart by which blood is sent through thoracic gills to be oxygenated
freshwater fish
tropical fish
2
: the flesh of fish used as food
We're having fish for dinner.
3
a
: a person who is caught or is wanted (as in a criminal investigation)
b
: fellow, person
an odd fish
c
: sucker sense 5a
felt sorry for the poor fish
4
: something that resembles a fish: such as
a
Fish or Fishes plural : pisces sense 1
b
: torpedo sense 1b
The submarine's fish hit the freighter.
fishless adjective
fishlike adjective

Illustration of fish

Illustration of fish
  • 1 mandible
  • 2 nasal opening
  • 3 eye
  • 4 cheek
  • 5 operculum
  • 6 dorsal fins
  • 7 lateral line
  • 8 caudal fin
  • 9 scales
  • 10 anal fin
  • 11 anus
  • 12 pectoral fin
  • 13 pelvic fin
  • 14 maxilla
  • 15 premaxilla
  • 16 upper jaw

fish

2 of 2

verb

fished; fishing; fishes

intransitive verb

1
: to attempt to catch fish
2
: to seek something by roundabout means
fishing for a compliment
3
a
: to search for something underwater
fish for pearls
b
: to engage in a search by groping or feeling
fishing around in her purse for her keys

transitive verb

1
a
: to try to catch fish in
b
: to fish with : use (something, such as a boat, a net, or bait) in fishing
2
a
: to go fishing for
fish salmon
b
: to pull or draw as if fishing
fished the ball from under the car
fish wires through a conduit
fishability noun
fishable adjective
Phrases
fish out of water
: a person who is in an unnatural or uncomfortable sphere or situation
The country boy felt like a fish out of water in the big city.
fish to fry
: concerns or interests to pursue
usually used with other
can't deal with that problem now; we've got other fish to fry right now
neither fish nor fowl
: one that does not belong to a particular class or category
The movie is neither fish nor fowl—it's not really a comedy, but it's too light-hearted to be called a drama.
fish or cut bait
: to make a choice between alternatives

Examples of fish in a Sentence

Noun We're having fish for dinner. he's rather an odd fish Verb We spent the afternoon fishing for trout. They fished the stream all morning. She was fishing around in her purse for her keys.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Donny Block, who has lived in neighborhood for eight years, said animal control and fish and wildlife officials came. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 In the case of Charlotte, then, her pregnancy can most likely be explained by parthenogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction akin to cloning that’s performed by some fish, reptiles and birds. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 The exhibit will also include a rotating collection of other octopuses and fish, per the release. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024 Steamed Fish at Chan Sun Kee Cantonese cuisine values high-quality ingredients, with a focus on delicacy, cleanliness, and clarity of flavor. Condé Nast, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2024 Although the bones of fish, cattle, sheep and pig were pulled out of the middens (halos of garbage dumped from the huts above), there was no evidence of human casualties. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Beef O'Brady's serves up special St. Patrick's Day menu Beef O'Brady's has a special St. Patrick's Day menu including fish 'n' chips, Reuben sandwich, Dubliner entrée, corned beef & cabbage, and shepherd's pie (pricing and availability varies by location). Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 The juvenile fish had hatched at Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, CDFW’s new, $35 million facility that was approved last spring. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 Summer typically offers an appealing balance of relatively calm conditions and fish abundance. David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
There is no wrong way to fish the Lunker City Fin-S Fish. David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024 The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 Three of the property’s four cottages were originally fishing shacks from the 1940s, but they’ve been renovated and decorated with regional themes. Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 Tribal members in Wisconsin spear fish through ice not just to feed, but to teach community Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 Renfro was fishing with a group aboard the outfitter’s new sportfishing boat, a 40-foot G&S named the Libertad. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024 The 12-year-old has many interests, from fishing and playing video games to exploring science. The Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2024 O’Dowd senior Nyah Greenwood fished with an astounding 21 rebounds. Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Read Next Deputy transporting inmate is killed in crash with big rig, Texas officials say February 22, 2024 1:51 PM Read Next National Boat flips as cousins fish on freezing pond, Georgia officials say. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English fisc; akin to Old High German fisc fish, Latin piscis

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fish was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fish

Cite this Entry

“Fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fish. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fish

1 of 2 noun
plural fish or fishes
1
a
: a water-dwelling animal
usually used in combination
starfish
cuttlefish
b
: a cold-blooded vertebrate animal with a typically long scaly tapering body, limbs developed as fins, and a vertical tail fin that lives and breathes in water
2
: the flesh of fish used as food
fishlike adjective

fish

2 of 2 verb
1
: to catch or try to catch fish
2
a
: to catch or try to catch fish in
fish the stream
b
: to search for something underwater
fishing for pearls
3
: to seek something by or as if by groping or feeling
fished for compliments
fished in his pocket for change

Biographical Definition

Fish

biographical name

Hamilton 1808–1893 American statesman

More from Merriam-Webster on fish

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