poached; poaching; poaches
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached; poaching; poaches
1
: to encroach upon especially for the purpose of taking something
2
: to trespass for the purpose of stealing game
also
: to take game or fish illegally
1
: to trespass on
… a field poached too frequently by the amateur …—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)2
a
: to take (game or fish) by illegal methods
b
: to appropriate (something) as one's own
c
: to attract (someone, such as an employee or customer) away from a competitor
Examples of poach in a Sentence
Verb (1)
poaching fish in a stock flavored with white wine
Recent Examples on the Web
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
According to rumor, some of the researchers downstairs were Meta employees hoping to be poached by the Institute for Foundation Models, which supposedly offered more enticing compensation packages.
—Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2025
By adding a minor league player to the 40-man roster, a team protects him from being poached by a rival in the annual Rule 5 Draft.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Additionally, Wells has poached top bankers from rivals like Barclays , Deutsche Bank , Piper Sandler, and others to bolster its investment banking efforts.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poach
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Verb
Meanwhile, The Daily Show’s Emmy-winning correspondent/guest host Chieng appears in three episodes as Barry, a slick, aggressive, powerful sports agent who tries to poach Monica for his own company and force her to drop Reggie as a client.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
According to rumor, some of the researchers downstairs were Meta employees hoping to be poached by the Institute for Foundation Models, which supposedly offered more enticing compensation packages.
—Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2025
By adding a minor league player to the 40-man roster, a team protects him from being poached by a rival in the annual Rule 5 Draft.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Additionally, Wells has poached top bankers from rivals like Barclays , Deutsche Bank , Piper Sandler, and others to bolster its investment banking efforts.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poach
Cite this Entry
“Poach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poach. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poach
1 of 2 verb
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached eggs
poach
2 of 2 verb
: to hunt or fish unlawfully
poacher
noun
Etymology
Verb
Middle English pochen "to boil an egg without its shell so that the white covers the yolk like a bag," from early French pocher (same meaning), from earlier pochier, literally, "to put into a bag," from poche "bag, pocket"
Verb
from early French pocher "to hunt or fish unlawfully"
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