poached; poaching; poaches
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached; poaching; poaches
1
: to encroach upon especially for the purpose of taking something
2
: to trespass for the purpose of stealing game
also
: to take game or fish illegally
1
: to trespass on
a field poached too frequently by the amateur—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)2
a
: to take (game or fish) by illegal methods
b
: to appropriate (something) as one's own
c
: to attract (someone, such as an employee or customer) away from a competitor
Examples of poach in a Sentence
Verb (1)
poaching fish in a stock flavored with white wine
Recent Examples on the Web
David Morgan, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2025
Utah also poached second-year Lakers point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
Under a program called Substack Pro, the company poached top media talent from traditional newsrooms with higher pay, health insurance, and other perks.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 23 Jan. 2025
Savor mains such as butter poached lobster with chili, garlic chives, and coconut; local black bass with oyster mushrooms and saffron citrus sauce; Lyndsey Farms Filet with brûléed onions and sauce périgourdine; and handmade fettuccine with parmesan crème and salsify crisps.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for poach 
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Verb
That one rhino is poached every 15 hours and that the rangers are losing their lives.
—David Morgan, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2025
Utah also poached second-year Lakers point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
Under a program called Substack Pro, the company poached top media talent from traditional newsrooms with higher pay, health insurance, and other perks.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 23 Jan. 2025
Savor mains such as butter poached lobster with chili, garlic chives, and coconut; local black bass with oyster mushrooms and saffron citrus sauce; Lyndsey Farms Filet with brûléed onions and sauce périgourdine; and handmade fettuccine with parmesan crème and salsify crisps.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for poach
Dictionary Entries Near poach
Cite this Entry
“Poach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poach. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poach
1 of 2 verb
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached eggs
poach
2 of 2 verb
: to hunt or fish unlawfully
poacher
noun
Etymology
Verb
Middle English pochen "to boil an egg without its shell so that the white covers the yolk like a bag," from early French pocher (same meaning), from earlier pochier, literally, "to put into a bag," from poche "bag, pocket"
Verb
from early French pocher "to hunt or fish unlawfully"
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