magnet fishing

noun

: the sport or hobby of using a strong magnet attached to the end of a rope to find metal objects in bodies of water
Magnet fishing uses a strong magnet attached to a thick rope in an attempt to fish out metal objects that have sunk to the bottom of canals, lakes, ponds and rivers. Alisha Ebrahimji
magnet fish intransitive verb
magnet fished also magnet-fished; magnet fishing also magnet-fishing; magnet fishes also magnet-fishes
If Wray was magnet fishing as stated in the story, he would struggle to find much silver. The precious metal is not magnetic so it is not possible for a piece of silver to be attracted to a magnet with enough force to be found as Wray described in the story. Liam Geraghty
Walters says he has magnet-fished several times, pulling in knives, bait weights and other metal. Jon Burkett

Examples of magnet fishing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Treasure Chest Hidden 10 Years Ago and Said to Be Worth Millions Is Finally Found According to Popular Mechanics, magnet fishing enthusiasts use a strong magnet to pull objects from the water. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024 Kane and Agostini picked up magnet fishing as a hobby during the coronavirus pandemic to counter their boredom, Kane told NY1. Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 4 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnet fishing was in 1945

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Cite this Entry

“Magnet fishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnet%20fishing. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

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