sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine (Ipomoea batatas) of the morning-glory family that is often grown for its edible tuberous root or for its ornamental variously shaped green to purple leaves and usually white to pinkish funnel-shaped flowers with pink to purple centers

also : the large thick sweet and nutritious tuberous root of the sweet potato that has beige, yellow, orange, red, or purple flesh and is cooked and eaten as a vegetable compare yam sense 2

2

: ocarina

Examples of sweet potato in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first ingredient is the main veggie (broccoli, spinach, or sweet potato), then potatoes, onions, potato flakes, canola oil or sunflower oil, egg whites, arrowroot powder, salt, and garlic. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025

Some believe slavery is the reason sweet potato pie didn’t take off in the North. —Sophie Bates, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025

The plan is to have two types of turkey (roasted and smoked), mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 Nov. 2025

Key Takeaways Pumpkin pie has slightly fewer calories and carbohydrates, and more vitamin A and fiber than sweet potato pie. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sweet potato

• adagio
• altiplano
• arapaho
• arapahoe
• manifesto
• medicago
• minangkabau
• oregano
• ostinato
• pistachio
• politico
• portfolio

Kids Definition

sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine related to the morning glories and having variously shaped leaves and purplish flowers

also : its large sweet starchy root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

2

: ocarina