poached; poaching; poaches
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached; poaching; poaches
1
: to encroach upon especially for the purpose of taking something
2
: to trespass for the purpose of stealing game
also
: to take game or fish illegally
1
: to trespass on
… a field poached too frequently by the amateur …—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)2
a
: to take (game or fish) by illegal methods
b
: to appropriate (something) as one's own
c
: to attract (someone, such as an employee or customer) away from a competitor
Examples of poach in a Sentence
Verb (1)
poaching fish in a stock flavored with white wine
Recent Examples on the Web
John W. Davis, Oc Register, 19 June 2026
Another team could also poach her.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
But per a source, the Blazers were either unwilling or unable under new owner Tom Dundon to make a competitive offer to retain Splitter, and the Bulls were able to poach him as a result.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
And the job of those rangers is to ensure that there isn't any contact at all because there is some level of poaching.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poach
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Verb
The Sparks are the first WNBA team to poach a developmental contract player from another franchise in league history.
—John W. Davis, Oc Register, 19 June 2026
Another team could also poach her.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
But per a source, the Blazers were either unwilling or unable under new owner Tom Dundon to make a competitive offer to retain Splitter, and the Bulls were able to poach him as a result.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
And the job of those rangers is to ensure that there isn't any contact at all because there is some level of poaching.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poach
Cite this Entry
“Poach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poach. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poach
1 of 2 verb
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached eggs
poach
2 of 2 verb
: to hunt or fish unlawfully
poacher
noun
Etymology
Verb
Middle English pochen "to boil an egg without its shell so that the white covers the yolk like a bag," from early French pocher (same meaning), from earlier pochier, literally, "to put into a bag," from poche "bag, pocket"
Verb
from early French pocher "to hunt or fish unlawfully"
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