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

Simple ingredient swaps—like applesauce for butter or sweet potato puree for sugar—can boost nutrition without sacrificing taste. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 Dec. 2025

The Food Network star stuffed a Japanese sweet potato with American cheese, crediting the meal to Bales. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025

The high-end holiday meal includes a 40-ounce bone-in ribeye with a side of sweet potato casserole. —Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025

Galley Grill on Summerland Key is a local favorite for breakfast and lunch—think strawberry almond French toast, sweet potato and sausage hash, and weekend fresh-catch specials. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 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