sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine (Ipomoea batatas) of the morning-glory family that is often grown for its edible tuberous root or for its ornamental variously shaped green to purple leaves and usually white to pinkish funnel-shaped flowers with pink to purple centers

also : the large thick sweet and nutritious tuberous root of the sweet potato that has beige, yellow, orange, red, or purple flesh and is cooked and eaten as a vegetable compare yam sense 2

2

: ocarina

Examples of sweet potato in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Autumn was always hallmarked by Grandma’s sweet potato pie. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025

The Glow Bowl with sweet potato noodles and protein of choice is delicious and well-balanced, too. —Sunny Hubler, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2025

Some of her culinary ventures include a creamy Turkish pasta, homemade chicken tenders with Texas toast, and sweet potato pie and banana bread for a Cousinsgiving celebration. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Aug. 2025

In the second block, YAM was an obvious sweet potato and ASHES seemed like a safe bet. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sweet potato

• adagio
• altiplano
• arapaho
• arapahoe
• manifesto
• medicago
• minangkabau
• oregano
• ostinato
• pistachio
• politico
• portfolio

Kids Definition

sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine related to the morning glories and having variously shaped leaves and purplish flowers

also : its large sweet starchy root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

2

: ocarina