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
Most families have a few hens, a flock of sheep, a patch of greens and potatoes; on bigger farms there are cows whose milk and butter are sold locally.
—
Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
To make this hearty soup even heartier, add diced potatoes before simmering.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
While the pork chops rest, scoop the potatoes into a mixing bowl with a little of their cooking liquid and give them a good mash with a potato masher.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Beautiful glasses are filled with Salina’s fruity whites, and bijoux copper pans with creamy mashed potatoes and sea urchins.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for potato
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Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
To make this hearty soup even heartier, add diced potatoes before simmering.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
While the pork chops rest, scoop the potatoes into a mixing bowl with a little of their cooking liquid and give them a good mash with a potato masher.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Beautiful glasses are filled with Salina’s fruity whites, and bijoux copper pans with creamy mashed potatoes and sea urchins.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for potato
Cite this Entry
“Potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potato. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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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