1
a
: a usually rounded metal or earthen container used chiefly for domestic purposes (as in cooking or for holding liquids or growing plants)
also
: any of various technical or industrial vessels or enclosures resembling or likened to a household pot
the pot of a still
b
: potful
a pot of coffee
2
: an enclosed framework of wire, wood, or wicker for catching fish or lobsters
3
a
: a large amount (as of money)
b(1)
: the total of the bets at stake at one time
(2)
: one round in a poker game
c
: the common fund of a group
4
: potshot
5
: potbelly
6
: ruin
gone to pot
7
British
: a shot in snooker in which a ball is pocketed
8
potted; potting
1
a
: to place in a pot
b
: to pack or preserve (something, such as cooked and chopped meat) in a sealed pot, jar, or can often with aspic
2
: to shoot with a potshot
3
: to make or shape (earthenware) as a potter
4
: to embed (something, such as electronic components) in a container with an insulating or protective material (such as plastic)
: to take a potshot
1
potential
2
potentiometer
Synonyms
Examples of pot in a Sentence
Verb
She spent the afternoon potting tulip bulbs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
Most of your cleaning power should come from hot water and gentle scrubbing or brushing, the way cast-iron pots like Chinese woks and Indian kadai are traditionally cleaned.
—Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Black excellence, pot princess of Prince George’s edition Cannabis wasn’t always in the plan for Wiseman, who in so many ways embodies Prince George’s storied, Black upper middle-class dreams.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Geotextile fabric pots are easy to use but dry out superfast in our climate.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Again, choose a pot that is slightly wider and deeper than your existing container.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
In the decade since the first states legalized recreational marijuana, about half the country has moved to allow adults to buy regulated pot from authorized sources.
—Martin Kaste, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Before sunset and the fast-breaking iftar meal, recipients line up holding their pots and pans.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
These utensils can be used in all cookware, including nonstick pots and pans.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
Brush away any potting mix that is clinging to the roots.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Her husband, Tom, has his beloved tomato plants potted and ready to replant on his son’s acreage.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Remove any dead roots and any large roots that will interfere with potting.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
Top off garden with fresh compost (not planting mix, not potting mix), plus worm castings and organic vegetable fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
During the event, Shades of Moss owner Barry Greene will teach you how to pot your own plant on the patio at Devil’s Logic Brewing.
—Jessica Swannie, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
Plant the seeds in a potting mix or soil with an equal distribution of peat, perlite, and volcanic rock.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2024
Just get a ginger root from the grocery store, chop it into 1-inch chunks, and plant those in a pretty good-size pot with just an inch of potting mix on top, leaving several inches between each piece of ginger.
—Katherine Roth, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024
Noun
The on-site restaurant, The Original, feels like a modernized diner serving up chicken pot pies and deviled eggs.
—Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
Most of your cleaning power should come from hot water and gentle scrubbing or brushing, the way cast-iron pots like Chinese woks and Indian kadai are traditionally cleaned.
—Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Black excellence, pot princess of Prince George’s edition Cannabis wasn’t always in the plan for Wiseman, who in so many ways embodies Prince George’s storied, Black upper middle-class dreams.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Geotextile fabric pots are easy to use but dry out superfast in our climate.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Again, choose a pot that is slightly wider and deeper than your existing container.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
In the decade since the first states legalized recreational marijuana, about half the country has moved to allow adults to buy regulated pot from authorized sources.
—Martin Kaste, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Before sunset and the fast-breaking iftar meal, recipients line up holding their pots and pans.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
These utensils can be used in all cookware, including nonstick pots and pans.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
In a new pot (preferably 2-4 inches larger in diameter), add a fresh potting mix that contains coco coir, perlite, or vermiculite for optimum drainage.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
Brush away any potting mix that is clinging to the roots.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Her husband, Tom, has his beloved tomato plants potted and ready to replant on his son’s acreage.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Remove any dead roots and any large roots that will interfere with potting.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
Top off garden with fresh compost (not planting mix, not potting mix), plus worm castings and organic vegetable fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
During the event, Shades of Moss owner Barry Greene will teach you how to pot your own plant on the patio at Devil’s Logic Brewing.
—Jessica Swannie, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
Plant the seeds in a potting mix or soil with an equal distribution of peat, perlite, and volcanic rock.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2024
Just get a ginger root from the grocery store, chop it into 1-inch chunks, and plant those in a pretty good-size pot with just an inch of potting mix on top, leaving several inches between each piece of ginger.
—Katherine Roth, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pot
Cite this Entry
“Pot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pot. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pot
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a deep rounded container for household purposes
cooking pot
b
: the quantity held by a pot
a pot of tea
2
: an enclosed trap for catching fish or lobsters
3
a
: a large quantity or sum
b
: the total of the bets at stake at one time
4
: ruin entry 1 sense 1
business went to pot
pot
2 of 3 verb
potted; potting
1
: to preserve in a sealed pot, jar, or can
2
: to plant or grow in a pot
pot
3 of 3 nounEtymology
Noun
perhaps from Mexican Spanish potiguaya "marijuana"
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