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

Approximately $150 million is at stake in the poaching penalty and exit fee lawsuits — the former filed by the Pac-12 against the Mountain West, the latter by Utah State, Boise State and Colorado State against the Mountain West. —Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

He became known for poaching clients, extracting heroic sums for their work, and burnishing their reputations abroad. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Another factor is that big-conference expansion has poached the smaller leagues, many of whom still enjoy automatic tournament bids despite being noticeably weaker. —Greg Cote updated March 23, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026

Ellison reportedly helped the University of Michigan fund a name, image, and likeness sports package to poach quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood from Louisiana State University in November 2024. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Mar. 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"