pole
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for pole, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction.
“The washing line was tied to a tall wooden pole in the garden.”
Opposites
2. verb
To push a boat forward using a pole.
“He poled the little raft across the shallow pond.”
How to use pole
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
fishing pole
North Pole
flag pole
pole position
Etymology
From Old English pal, from Latin palus, "stake."
Full origin of pole →Frequently asked questions
What does “pole” mean?
The word “pole” means a long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction. In plain terms, a long rod-like object, the extreme points of the Earth or a magnet, or a person from Poland.
How do you pronounce “pole”?
“Pole” is pronounced pohl (/poʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pole” in a sentence?
Here is “pole” used in a sentence: “They set up a tent using two long poles.”
What is the opposite of “pole”?
The opposite of “pole” — its antonyms — is zero.
What part of speech is “pole”?
Depending on how it is used, “pole” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pole” come from?
The word “pole” comes from Latin. From Old English pal, from Latin palus, "stake.".
Is “pole” a common word?
“Pole” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pole” have?
“Pole” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction.
What is the difference between the two meanings of "pole"?
One sense of "pole" is a long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction, such as a flagpole. The other sense is either of the two points where the Earth's axis meets its surface, or a similar point on a magnet, such as the North Pole or a magnetic pole.
What is the difference between "pole" and "poll"?
Though they sound alike, "pole" is a long rod or an endpoint of an axis or magnet, while "poll" refers to voting or a survey of opinion. They are homophones with completely different meanings.
Why are the ends of a magnet called "poles"?
A magnet has two poles, its north and south, mirroring the way "pole" names the points where the Earth's axis meets its surface. The word marks the opposite endpoints of a magnetic or geographic field.
