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

Goldberg hit three nasty potholes in three weeks, paying $144 each time to replace the tires. —Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026

At Fourth and Bainbridge streets in the Queen Village neighborhood, drivers are slowing, stopping and swerving to avoid two large potholes stretching across the roadway. —Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

Debt service quietly crowds out everything else: parks, police, potholes and investments in health care, housing and hunger. —Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Some people were like, 'These bills and these potholes — like, my condition hasn't been improved by NASA. —Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 29 Mar. 2026

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)