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

: ocarina

Examples of sweet potato in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The sweet potato fries can be limp at times, but the regular fries are dependably crisp and well-seasoned. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

Tierra Reina’s first course offered a choice between aguachile verde with snapper and a tostada with Carolina Ruby sweet potato. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026

Goat's beard, sweet potato vine 'Sweetheart Purple', and Superbells 'Lemon' combine for a pretty grouping in a vintage container. —Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026

Place a clump of the sweet potato strings on top of the aioli. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sweet potato

• adagio
• altiplano
• arapaho
• arapahoe
• manifesto
• medicago
• minangkabau
• oregano
• ostinato
• pistachio
• politico
• portfolio

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

: ocarina