pothole
Americannoun
-
geography
-
a deep hole in limestone areas resulting from action by running water See also sinkhole
-
a circular hole in the bed of a river produced by abrasion
-
-
a deep hole, esp one produced in a road surface by wear or weathering
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pothole
Explanation
A pothole is a hole or little pit in a road. Drivers complain about potholes frequently. If you've ever felt a little bump while in a car, you probably hit a pothole: a little hole in the street caused by wear and tear. Newly paved roads are smooth and have no potholes, but potholes develop over time. Drivers hate potholes because the little bump is startling, and a big pothole could actually damage a car. Eventually, potholes are usually filled in when a road gets paved. Potholes are also called chuckholes.
Vocabulary lists containing pothole
Look Both Ways
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Circuit
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
As Brave as You
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
One way to consider today’s higher rates is as a “return to normal” after the crisis pothole.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
“I think that we have to shift it away from ideological labeling to really concrete economic ideas — you know, they call her a pothole pragmatist, the DSA does. ... That’s what we need.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Cities and counties are scrambling to prepare for a potential overhaul of how they pay for all sorts of services, from policing to pothole repairs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
And then there’s the biggest pothole of all on the road to pastoral wonder:
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026
In the pothole, up to his ears in the water, stood Little Arliss.
From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson
They bemoaned the condition of roads, which are pockmarked with potholes, as well as the pace of development, which has accelerated in recent years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
When AFP visited, municipal workers were fixing a road that residents said had been riddled with potholes for years.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
“Every time City Hall fails to do that— potholes that don’t get fixed, streetlights that stay dark, 911 calls that go unanswered — it erodes people’s faith that government can solve problems at all.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
He railed against the city’s challenges with public safety, potholes, and the abuse of dogs on Skid Row.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
“Ride in the cab. Some nasty potholes on the way back. Wouldn’t want you to bounce around back there.”
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
