pothole

noun

pot·​hole ˈpät-ˌhōl 

1

a

: a circular hole formed in the rocky bed of a river by the grinding action of stones or gravel whirled round by the water

b

: a sizable rounded often water-filled depression in land

2

: a pot-shaped hole in a road surface

3

: a usually minor difficulty or setback

hit a pothole in her comeback attempt

potholed

ˈpät-ˌhōld 

adjective

Examples of pothole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet, this $1.9 billion transformation of public housing has been greenlit — quietly, bureaucratically, and without the basic scrutiny a city pothole repair might receive. —Layla Law-Gisiko, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2025

Since then, maintenance has been cut back, and small or moderate-size potholes in Avonwood Drive have expanded to wide and sometimes deep craters. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 Aug. 2025

In the video, a school bus gets stuck in a pothole and JJ and his friends transform into superheroes after eating some delicious fruity muffins. —Annabelle Canela, Parents, 8 Aug. 2025

Even in the hellacious conditions of Greater Los Angeles, the suspension absorbs severe potholes, broken surfaces and expansion joints with little more than the sound of a muffled timpani strike. —Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for pothole

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

Kids Definition

pothole

noun

pot·​hole ˈpät-ˌhōl 

: a deep round hole (as in a road)