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

Executives from Salesforce, Snowflake, and Datadog have been poached recently by OpenAI and Anthropic, lured by large compensation packages and the opportunity to bring existing corporate relationships to these AI companies, according to multiple sources. —Seema Mody,kate Rooney, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026

The same applies to leeks poached in white wine or green beans stewed with bacon. —Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 24 Apr. 2026

All of their players that are good enough to play at Power 4 schools will just end up being poached by the big boys. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Despite the Panthers poaching the Checkers’ roster, Charlotte still finished third in the Atlantic Division, going 44-23-5. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 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"