pot

1 of 4

noun (1)

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
5
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
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)

pot

4 of 4

abbreviation

1
potential
2
potentiometer

Examples of pot in a Sentence

Verb She spent the afternoon potting tulip bulbs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Adding the veggies separately will allow all of them to fit into a large pot. Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2024 On September 17, 1984, Mike, then twelve, had the TV on while his mother, Jeanne, tended a pot on the stove. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water, and return pasta to pot. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 But through an intimate connection built via mindfulness and meditation (and horniness), the yogi and model were able to overcome anything in their way — even a Greek God named Shawn — and ultimately took home what was left of the prize pot. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 Sparks recommends putting the cut segments into something like a grow bag, which is a large, rounded fabric container, but said potatoes can be grown in pots provided those pots are at least a foot deep (though 18 inches or deeper is preferable). Alex Groves, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, make the glaze by placing the chicken bone broth in a pot on high heat and reduce for 20 minutes. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 The playoff dinner the night before that began with a pot of chili and ended up a smorgasbord. Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 If turkeys encroach into your space, scare them off by making a lot of noise, waving your hands, banging pots and pans, or squirting the birds with a garden hose. Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2024
Verb
Remove any dead roots and any large roots that will interfere with potting. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Top off garden with fresh compost (not planting mix, not potting mix), plus worm castings and organic vegetable fertilizer. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 During the event, Shades of Moss owner Barry Greene will teach you how to pot your own plant on the patio at Devil’s Logic Brewing. Jessica Swannie, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 Plant the seeds in a potting mix or soil with an equal distribution of peat, perlite, and volcanic rock. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2024 Just get a ginger root from the grocery store, chop it into 1-inch chunks, and plant those in a pretty good-size pot with just an inch of potting mix on top, leaving several inches between each piece of ginger. Katherine Roth, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 On display – in two permanent galleries – are Indian religious sculpture, a Thai head of Buddha, Japanese tea bowls, Chinese earthenware pots from 500 B.C. and Japanese scrolls. Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 After the killing was carried out, prosecutors allege Brady potted on to his next would-be victim, Troxell. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024 But for containers, use basic potting mix, which is slightly acidic and well-draining. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pot was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pot

Cite this Entry

“Pot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pot. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pot

1 of 3 noun
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
Etymology

Noun

perhaps from Mexican Spanish potiguaya "marijuana"

Medical Definition

pot

1 of 2 noun
: a usually rounded container

pot

2 of 2 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on pot

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!