1
a
: a circular hole formed in the rocky bed of a river by the grinding action of stones or gravel whirled round by the water
b
: a sizable rounded often water-filled depression in land
2
: a pot-shaped hole in a road surface
3
: a usually minor difficulty or setback
hit a pothole in her comeback attempt
Examples of pothole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition to responding to encampments, San Jose’s pilot program aims to help identify trash, graffiti, potholes and parking violations.
—
Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
His life was cut short when a cargo vessel struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in late March, causing the bridge where Suazo Sandoval and seven other construction workers were fixing potholes to collapse into the Pataspsco River.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Authorities said previously that six construction workers who had been repairing potholes on the Key Bridge — including Suazo Sandoval — were believed to have fallen to their deaths after a ship crashed into the span last week, collapsing it.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Six construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge died as a result of the accident.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
The victims, originally from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, were filling potholes on the bridge when it was hit by a container ship on Tuesday.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Things that cannot be ignored in any three-wheeled conveyance are potholes, since straddling these requires careful aim to avoid an unwelcome clunk.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Eight construction workers who were fixing potholes on the span plunged into the frigid water as the bridge collapsed early Tuesday, officials said.
—Victoria Arancio, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Two were rescued, but the other six — part of a construction crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge — were missing and presumed dead.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
His life was cut short when a cargo vessel struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in late March, causing the bridge where Suazo Sandoval and seven other construction workers were fixing potholes to collapse into the Pataspsco River.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Authorities said previously that six construction workers who had been repairing potholes on the Key Bridge — including Suazo Sandoval — were believed to have fallen to their deaths after a ship crashed into the span last week, collapsing it.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Six construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge died as a result of the accident.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
The victims, originally from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, were filling potholes on the bridge when it was hit by a container ship on Tuesday.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Things that cannot be ignored in any three-wheeled conveyance are potholes, since straddling these requires careful aim to avoid an unwelcome clunk.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Eight construction workers who were fixing potholes on the span plunged into the frigid water as the bridge collapsed early Tuesday, officials said.
—Victoria Arancio, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Two were rescued, but the other six — part of a construction crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge — were missing and presumed dead.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pothole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pothole
Cite this Entry
“Pothole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pothole. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pothole
noun
pot·hole
ˈpät-ˌhōl 
: a deep round hole (as in a road)
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