pot

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpät 

1

a

: a usually rounded metal or earthen container used chiefly for domestic purposes (as in cooking or for holding liquids or growing plants)

also : any of various technical or industrial vessels or enclosures resembling or likened to a household pot

the pot of a still

b

: potful

a pot of coffee

2

: an enclosed framework of wire, wood, or wicker for catching fish or lobsters

3

a

: a large amount (as of money)

b(1)

: the total of the bets at stake at one time

(2)

: one round in a poker game

c

: the common fund of a group

4

: potshot

5

: potbelly

6

: ruin

gone to pot

7

British : a shot in snooker in which a ball is pocketed

8

: a vessel for urination and defecation: such as

a

: toilet sense 1a

b

: potty

pot

2 of 4

verb

potted; potting

transitive verb

1

a

: to place in a pot

b

: to pack or preserve (something, such as cooked and chopped meat) in a sealed pot, jar, or can often with aspic

2

: to shoot with a potshot

3

: to make or shape (earthenware) as a potter

4

: to embed (something, such as electronic components) in a container with an insulating or protective material (such as plastic)

intransitive verb

: to take a potshot

pot

3 of 4

noun (2)

: marijuana

pot

4 of 4

abbreviation

1

potential

2

potentiometer

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• pool

Examples of pot in a Sentence

Noun (1)

everyone got a bit nervous when the pot grew to more than a hundred dollars

made a pot of money in the real estate market

vowed that he would never get a pot, that telltale sign of middle age

Verb

She spent the afternoon potting tulip bulbs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For anyone hosting family and friends for the holidays this season, snag Staub’s braiser and bouillabaisse pot on sale, which make stews, sauces, roasted meats, and other hearty dishes. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025

And there’s always the risk of confusion about authority, said Cole, who has been called in to sort out situations after a co-leadership structure has gone to pot. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025

Verb

When the embryo end begins to swell, which could take up to 24 hours, insert the seed, embryo side down, into your potting mix, leaving the papery end of the seed exposed to air, and germination should take place within two weeks. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025

Start by de-potting your favorite makeup or skincare products and placing them into small tins. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English pott; akin to Middle Low German pot pot

Noun (2)

perhaps modification of Mexican Spanish potiguaya

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb

1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1938, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pot

• anti-pot
• a watched pot never boils
• chamber pot
• chimney pot
• go to pot
• hot pot
• in the melting pot
• lobster pot
• melting pot
• pepper pot
• Philadelphia pepper pot
• pot ale
• pot-au-feu
• pot bound
• pot cheese
• pot hat
• pot holder
• pot likker
• pot liquor
• pot marigold
• pot of gold
• pot plant
• pot roast
• pot sticker
• pot still
• the pot
• tin-pot
• try-pot

Rhymes for pot

• aught
• baht
• blot
• bott
• bought
• brought
• caught
• clot
• cot
• cott
• dot
• fought

Kids Definition

pot

1 of 3 noun

ˈpät 

1

a

: a deep rounded container for household purposes

cooking pot

b

: the quantity held by a pot

a pot of tea

2

: an enclosed trap for catching fish or lobsters

3

a

: a large quantity or sum

b

: the total of the bets at stake at one time

4

: ruin entry 1 sense 1

business went to pot

pot

2 of 3 verb

potted; potting

1

: to preserve in a sealed pot, jar, or can

2

: to plant or grow in a pot

pot

3 of 3 noun

: marijuana

Etymology

Noun

perhaps from Mexican Spanish potiguaya "marijuana"

Medical Definition

pot

1 of 2 noun

ˈpät 

: a usually rounded container

pot

2 of 2 noun

: marijuana