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
Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Researchers distributed email surveys to 80,000 licensed hunters and another 80,000 landowners in the subject states, and over 1,200 active conservation officers were also surveyed in an effort to get a comprehensive view of attitudes about and estimations of the prevalence of poaching.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
After hearing gunshots ring out in the middle of the night, residents soon feared two bears had been poached as speculations swirled, California wildlife officials say.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen did not rule from the bench in the latest chapter of the poaching penalty lawsuit.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poach
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Verb
Of course, now that Bhumjaithai is in power, Anutin can wield the trappings of office to poach lawmakers from other parties to buttress his position.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Researchers distributed email surveys to 80,000 licensed hunters and another 80,000 landowners in the subject states, and over 1,200 active conservation officers were also surveyed in an effort to get a comprehensive view of attitudes about and estimations of the prevalence of poaching.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
After hearing gunshots ring out in the middle of the night, residents soon feared two bears had been poached as speculations swirled, California wildlife officials say.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen did not rule from the bench in the latest chapter of the poaching penalty lawsuit.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 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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