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

An employee was seen using their bare hands to push over the sweet potato waffle fries. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026

Are these on par with the sweet potato fries that come straight out of the fryer at my favorite burger spot? — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026

Key Takeaways Choose compact sweet potato varieties like Vardaman or Beauregard for indoor pots. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2026

The restaurant also offers sweet potato, red velvet and peach cobbler waffles, along with sides such as yams, rice and beans, waffle fries and collard greens. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sweet potato

• adagio
• altiplano
• arapaho
• arapahoe
• fortissimo
• manifesto
• 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