sweet potato
Americannoun
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a plant, Ipomoea batatas, of the morning glory family, grown for its sweet, edible, tuberous roots.
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the root itself, used as a vegetable.
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Informal. ocarina.
noun
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a convolvulaceous twining plant, Ipomoea batatas, of tropical America, cultivated in the tropics for its edible fleshy yellow root
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the root of this plant
Etymology
Origin of sweet potato
An Americanism dating back to 1740–50
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.
The sweet potato coconut soup hit the spot.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
We feasted on smoked pork belly, which was fatty and fork-tender, smoked brisket, baked beans, and, of course, candied sweet potato with plenty of butter, cinnamon, and sugar.
From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026
Shredded raw red cabbage and roasted sweet potato coins, caramelized at the edges.
From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026
The question of whether "ducana" – a sweet potato and coconut dumpling – should or should not contain raisins has divided local residents for decades.
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025
Everyone gathered around as Mareth passed out fish, bread, and something that reminded Gregor of a sweet potato but wasn’t.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
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.
