sweet potato

noun

1
: a tropical vine (Ipomoea batatas) of the morning-glory family that is often grown for its edible tuberous root or for its ornamental variously shaped green to purple leaves and usually white to pinkish funnel-shaped flowers with pink to purple centers
also : the large thick sweet and nutritious tuberous root of the sweet potato that has beige, yellow, orange, red, or purple flesh and is cooked and eaten as a vegetable compare yam sense 2
2

Examples of sweet potato in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That means food like crispy Southern fried chicken, smothered pork chops, baked mac and cheese, buttery cornbread, savory collard greens, sweet potato pie and more, the Facebook post said. R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025 This includes bigeye tuna caught off Fort Pierce partnered with passionfruit picked in Homestead, green plantains and jalapeños from Holman’s Harvest in Loxahatchee Groves, daikon radishes from Kai-Kai Farm in Indiantown and cilantro from the Driftwood garden, all pooled in a sweet potato gazpacho. Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025 Add bay leaves, saffron and its liquid, and enough vegetable stock to barely cover sweet potato cubes. Yakir Levy, Oc Register, 2 Apr. 2025 Cauliflower-Broccoli Tajine with Hearts of Palm Rice Bold flavors popular in Morocco — ginger, garlic, saffron, cumin and other spices, as well as lemon pieces — simmer with the broccoli, cauliflower and sweet potato. Yakir Levy, Oc Register, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sweet potato

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweet potato was in 1750

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Cite this Entry

“Sweet potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet%20potato. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

sweet potato

noun
1
: a tropical vine related to the morning glories and having variously shaped leaves and purplish flowers
also : its large sweet starchy root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable
2

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