potter

1 of 2

noun

pot·​ter ˈpä-tər 

: one that makes pottery

potter

2 of 2

verb

pottered; pottering; potters

intransitive verb

: putter

potterer

ˈpä-tər-ər 

noun

potteringly

ˈpä-tə-riŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Verb

• doodle
• fiddle (around)
• fool around
• fribble
• goof (around)
• hang about [British]
• kick around
• mess around
• monkey (around)
• play
• putter (around)
• trifle

Examples of potter in a Sentence

Verb

pottering around indoors on a rainy day

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rose has fired everything from jugs to loos and done her utmost to protect the potters from the kiln gods. —Abby Monteil, Them, 14 Oct. 2024

View the work of, and meet with, potters from all over North Carolina at Potters Market 2024 at Mint Museum Randolph | 5:30pm | $20+ | Details 🌳 Head to Freedom Park for art, music, food and family activities at the 60th annual Festival in the Park. —Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 16 Sep. 2024

Verb

Lucia pottered about, switching on a lamp, putting things away into cupboards, stacking the mugs into a corner. —Ruby Opalka, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2024

These are the humdrum and human experiences of a man who spent his time simply pottering about. —Will Ainsley, SPIN, 24 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably frequentative of English dialect pote to poke

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1829, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing potter

• potter around/about
• potter's clay
• potter's field
• potter's wheel

Kids Definition

potter

1 of 2 noun

pot·​ter ˈpät-ər 

: one that makes pottery

potter

2 of 2 verb

: putter entry 3

potterer noun

Biographical Definition

Potter 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Pot·​ter ˈpä-tər 

Beatrix 1866–1943 British writer and illustrator

Potter

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Paul or Paulus 1625–1654 Dutch painter