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 best of both worlds, this sweet potato casserole is topped with a Parmesan-herb streusel to give it a savory flavor. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025

For deluxe 9-inch pies, flavors include chocolate chip pecan, mince, caramel cinnamon apple, sweet potato, banana cream, chess, key lime, meringue (lemon, chocolate chip, butterscotch and coconut), plus sugar free apple ($23 each). —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025

The turkey burger is topped with mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry aioli, and served with sweet potato fries and marshmallow fluff. —Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025

Breakfast dishes include a California-style burrito and a sweet potato bowl with Peruvian-style roast chicken, while lunch options include pan con chicharron sandwiches with fried pork and sweet potato. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 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