pot
27 synonyms and 0 antonyms for pot, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A round container, usually with a handle, used for cooking or holding things such as plants.
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.
How to use pot
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English pott and Old French pot, both likely traced back to a Frankish word for a container, ultimately from a very old root meaning 'vessel.' The slang sense for marijuana is unrelated and probably comes from Mexican Spanish potiguaya.
Full origin of pot →Frequently asked questions
What does “pot” mean?
The word “pot” means a round container, usually with a handle, used for cooking or holding things such as plants. In plain terms, a round cooking or plant container — or, in slang, marijuana.
How do you pronounce “pot”?
“Pot” is pronounced pot (/pɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “pot” in a sentence?
Here is “pot” used in a sentence: “She put the pot of soup on the stove to simmer.”
What part of speech is “pot”?
Depending on how it is used, “pot” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pot” come from?
The word “pot” comes from Old French.
Is “pot” a common word?
“Pot” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pot” have?
“Pot” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a round container, usually with a handle, used for cooking or holding things such as plants.
What is the difference between a pot and a pan?
A pot is deep and round, usually with two small handles, and is used for boiling, stewing, or simmering larger amounts of liquid. A pan is shallower and wider, typically with one long handle, and is used for frying, searing, or sautéing where quick, even heat matters.
What are the main types of pots?
In the kitchen you find stockpots, saucepans, and Dutch ovens for cooking. Beyond cooking, the word covers flowerpots and plant pots for growing, coffee pots and teapots for serving drinks, and general storage pots for holding odds and ends. The shared trait is a round, container shape.
What is an example of a pot?
A large metal cooking pot used to boil pasta or make soup is a classic example. So is a clay flowerpot holding a houseplant on a windowsill. Both share the defining features of the word: a round container, often with a handle, made to cook food or hold something.