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

Try the crispy chicken sandwich and sweet potato waffle fries. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026

Signature bowls include the Hash Hash (braised beef, sweet potato hash, horseradish crema, feta and pickled onion) and The Pioneer (shredded chicken, sweet potato hash, Peruvian green sauce, Israeli pico de gallo and micro cilantro). —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026

Attendees can also enter a sweet potato pie contest for the chance to win a gift card for up to $100. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026

Add a spiller, such as petunias or sweet potato vines, to cascade down the front of the pot. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sweet potato

• adagio
• altiplano
• arapaho
• arapahoe
• fortissimo
• manifesto
• 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