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

The award-winning pralines, hand scooped and cooled on marble slabs daily, are the main draw, but don’t miss the sweet potato pralines, toffee, and caramels. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

Pumpkin pie has more vitamin A and fiber, while sweet potato pie has more vitamin C, B, and potassium. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 26 Nov. 2025

The Thanksgiving Heat & Serve Turkey n’ Dressing Meal is offered in-store and to-go with roasted turkey breast, cornbread dressing and gravy, green beans, sweet potato casserole, cranberry relish and rolls. —Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Nov. 2025

The theory is more Americans may need something more than sweet potato pie (try it with pineapples, marshmallows and a little brown sugar on top) to get through a night that some find dry as overcooked turkey or difficult due to the stress brought on by relatives people love from a distance. —Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 25 Nov. 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