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
Examples of pothole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Parents put pillows over potholes and kids learn how to navigate away from hard.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
The workers were filling potholes when the container ship Dali lost power and crashed into the bridge in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
But City Hall decides whether the pothole gets fixed, the park gets cleaned, the police show up, and the traffic light works.
—John Shallman, Daily News, 30 May 2026
Local control is a useful way to determine that, say, Huntington Beach should fix its own potholes.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pothole
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Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
The workers were filling potholes when the container ship Dali lost power and crashed into the bridge in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
But City Hall decides whether the pothole gets fixed, the park gets cleaned, the police show up, and the traffic light works.
—John Shallman, Daily News, 30 May 2026
Local control is a useful way to determine that, say, Huntington Beach should fix its own potholes.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pothole
Cite this Entry
“Pothole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pothole. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pothole
noun
pot·hole
ˈpät-ˌhōl 
: a deep round hole (as in a road)
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