Illustration of potato
- potato 2a
potato
noun
po·ta·to
pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō 
-tə
dialectal pə-ˈdā-,
bə-
plural potatoes
often attributive
1
2
a
: an erect South American herb (Solanum tuberosum) of the nightshade family widely cultivated for its edible starchy tuber
b
: the tuber of a potato
called also Irish potato, spud, white potato
Examples of potato in a Sentence
She's growing carrots and potatoes in her garden this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Modern potatoes likely descended from an ancient tomato plant.
—
The Atlantic Science Desk, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Its menu spans French classics like sole meunière with English-style potatoes to crowd-pleasers like wagyu smash burger with cheddar and bacon.
—Caitlin Gunther, Travel + Leisure, 25 Dec. 2025
Built on a humble base of broth, potatoes and celery, the soup gets its real character from an unapologetic heap of fresh herbs — parsley, dill, maybe a handful of chives — added with a confidence that borders on excess.
—Laura McLively, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
The roast cooks right on top of the potatoes and carrots, releasing its flavorful juices.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for potato
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The Atlantic Science Desk, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Its menu spans French classics like sole meunière with English-style potatoes to crowd-pleasers like wagyu smash burger with cheddar and bacon.
—Caitlin Gunther, Travel + Leisure, 25 Dec. 2025
Built on a humble base of broth, potatoes and celery, the soup gets its real character from an unapologetic heap of fresh herbs — parsley, dill, maybe a handful of chives — added with a confidence that borders on excess.
—Laura McLively, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
The roast cooks right on top of the potatoes and carrots, releasing its flavorful juices.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for potato
Cite this Entry
“Potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potato. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plural potatoes
2
a
: an erect South American herb widely cultivated for its thick starchy edible underground tubers
b
: one of these edible tubers
called also Irish potato, spud, white potato
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