poach

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈpōch 

poached; poaching; poaches

transitive verb

: to cook in simmering liquid

poach

2 of 2

verb (2)

poached; poaching; poaches

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

1

: to trespass on

… a field poached too frequently by the amateur …

—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

Synonyms of poach

Verb (1)

• boil
• simmer

Examples of poach in a Sentence

Verb (1)

poaching fish in a stock flavored with white wine

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Yormark was hired in August 2022, part of a new wave of college sports leaders being poached because of their pro sports experience. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026

African elephants are critically endangered due to issues like poaching and the ivory trade. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Founded nearly a century ago, Weil Gotshal was once the marquee for bankrtupcy advice but has more recently had difficulty competing with giant law firms that can poach talent with lavish pay packages. — Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Macron has also successfully poached multiple party members to serve in his Cabinet, blurring the relationship further. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English pocchen, from Middle French pocher, from Old French poché poached, literally, bagged, from poche bag, pocket — more at pouch

Verb (2)

Middle French pocher, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle English poken to poke

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing poach

• poach on someone's territory/turf

Rhymes for poach

• broach
• coach
• loach
• roach
• roche
• approach
• cockroach
• encroach
• reproach
• stagecoach

Kids Definition

poach

1 of 2 verb

ˈpōch 

: 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"