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

Some of the hazards are similar, too, like potholes that can seem as large as craters on the moon. —James Barron, New York Times, 2 May 2025

San Diego’s budget crisis is slowing pothole patching and crippling a plan to sharply raise road-repair spending intended to get the overall rating of the city’s streets back to the national standard. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025

Data being includes information such as stability control activation that might be an indicator of a slippery or ice road, speed that indicates traffic backups, or other sensor signals that might indicate the presence of a pothole in need of repair. —Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

In April and May, city crews are filling hundreds of potholes after the winter weather. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 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)