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
potted; potting
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)
: to take a potshot
1
potential
2
potentiometer
Synonyms
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
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 16 May 2024
Heat canola oil in an oven-safe pot over medium heat and then add short ribs.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2024
End the night on a sweet note with yuzu white chocolate pot de creme green tea macarons.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 14 May 2024
Cal will receive larger percentages of the conference’s revenue pot over the next two years before getting a full share in Year 10.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
The two Vision Funds and the Latin America funds together managed committed capital of more than $160 billion, by far the largest pot of startup capital ever collected.
—Min Jeong Lee, Fortune Asia, 10 May 2024
Will Majid, 44, make a go of his nascent import business of terra cotta pots?
—Carol Rosenberg Natalie Keyssar, New York Times, 9 May 2024
Come fall, replant with a soil refresh in the same pot, or plant out in garden beds.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 9 May 2024
The winnings from each game are added to a communal pot, with the last player at the end of the season potentially winning it all.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 7 May 2024
Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2024
This includes merchandise and other sales unrelated to pot itself, such as pipes, rolling paper and clothes.
—Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024
Vendors will be at the garden on certain weekends selling plants, potting supplies and other items.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2024
Ferm Living’s Ura soy wax candle comes in three calming scents — lemongrass, fig and chamomile — and is potted in a terra-cotta vessel with an accompanying lid.
—Jamie Sims Angela Koh Caitie Kelly Gage Daughdrill Shannon Adducci Ella Riley-Adams Caitie Kelly Angela Koh, New York Times, 2 May 2024
Choose high-quality, well-draining potting mix with compost mixed in and keep it moist.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 1 May 2024
Plant your citronella plant in a container filled with fast-draining potting mix or a 1:1 mix of peat and perlite.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
In a new pot (preferably 2-4 inches larger in diameter), add a fresh potting mix that contains coco coir, perlite, or vermiculite for optimum drainage.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
Brush away any potting mix that is clinging to the roots.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Mole will be returning to Netflix on June 28 for another season of action and intrigue as one player will once again secretly undermine all the other contestants attempting to complete missions and earn money for the prize pot.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 16 May 2024
Heat canola oil in an oven-safe pot over medium heat and then add short ribs.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2024
End the night on a sweet note with yuzu white chocolate pot de creme green tea macarons.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 14 May 2024
Cal will receive larger percentages of the conference’s revenue pot over the next two years before getting a full share in Year 10.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
The two Vision Funds and the Latin America funds together managed committed capital of more than $160 billion, by far the largest pot of startup capital ever collected.
—Min Jeong Lee, Fortune Asia, 10 May 2024
Will Majid, 44, make a go of his nascent import business of terra cotta pots?
—Carol Rosenberg Natalie Keyssar, New York Times, 9 May 2024
Come fall, replant with a soil refresh in the same pot, or plant out in garden beds.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 9 May 2024
The winnings from each game are added to a communal pot, with the last player at the end of the season potentially winning it all.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 7 May 2024
Verb
Doubling as a conservatory, this gazebo sports one walled section where a mirror hangs and a potting bench showcases an orchid collection.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2024
This includes merchandise and other sales unrelated to pot itself, such as pipes, rolling paper and clothes.
—Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024
Vendors will be at the garden on certain weekends selling plants, potting supplies and other items.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2024
Ferm Living’s Ura soy wax candle comes in three calming scents — lemongrass, fig and chamomile — and is potted in a terra-cotta vessel with an accompanying lid.
—Jamie Sims Angela Koh Caitie Kelly Gage Daughdrill Shannon Adducci Ella Riley-Adams Caitie Kelly Angela Koh, New York Times, 2 May 2024
Choose high-quality, well-draining potting mix with compost mixed in and keep it moist.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 1 May 2024
Plant your citronella plant in a container filled with fast-draining potting mix or a 1:1 mix of peat and perlite.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
In a new pot (preferably 2-4 inches larger in diameter), add a fresh potting mix that contains coco coir, perlite, or vermiculite for optimum drainage.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
Brush away any potting mix that is clinging to the roots.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near pot
Cite this Entry
“Pot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pot. Accessed 21 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pot
1 of 3 noun1
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 nounEtymology
Noun
perhaps from Mexican Spanish potiguaya "marijuana"
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