Phrase guide

fish out

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To catch all or nearly all the fish in (a given body of water), so that few or none remain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Settlers came and soon fished out the lake.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To pick up or pull something or someone from (a body of water).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To search for by rummaging, and then extract (an item from e.g. a container); to obtain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I fished out my keys from the bottom of my bag.
  • I fished out some information from some old copies of the local gazette.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: elpreni — rummage, then extract