1
a
: a circular hole formed in the rocky bed of a river by the grinding action of stones or gravel whirled round by the water
b
: a sizable rounded often water-filled depression in land
2
: a pot-shaped hole in a road surface
3
: a usually minor difficulty or setback
hit a pothole in her comeback attempt
Examples of pothole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of that work is related to roadway expansion, but some of it is routine maintenance to fix things like potholes and cracks.
—
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
The deep pothole was discovered in the right lane of southbound I-35 over Pflumm Road, according to Delaney Tholen, public information officer for KDOT’s KC Metro office.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025
Steve Moore, cofounder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, predicts fierce battles in state capitols, where teachers unions and other special interests will try to stop the tax relief movement, scaremongering about damaging cuts to school budgets and potholes in the streets.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
That is reduced to one report per pothole after volunteers get a call from a city representative instructing them to do so.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pothole
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Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
The deep pothole was discovered in the right lane of southbound I-35 over Pflumm Road, according to Delaney Tholen, public information officer for KDOT’s KC Metro office.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025
Steve Moore, cofounder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, predicts fierce battles in state capitols, where teachers unions and other special interests will try to stop the tax relief movement, scaremongering about damaging cuts to school budgets and potholes in the streets.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
That is reduced to one report per pothole after volunteers get a call from a city representative instructing them to do so.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pothole
Cite this Entry
“Pothole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pothole. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pothole
noun
pot·hole
ˈpät-ˌhōl 
: a deep round hole (as in a road)
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