poached; poaching; poaches
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached; poaching; poaches
1
: to encroach upon especially for the purpose of taking something
2
: to trespass for the purpose of stealing game
also
: to take game or fish illegally
1
: to trespass on
a field poached too frequently by the amateur—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)2
a
: to take (game or fish) by illegal methods
b
: to appropriate (something) as one's own
c
: to attract (someone, such as an employee or customer) away from a competitor
Examples of poach in a Sentence
Verb (1)
poaching fish in a stock flavored with white wine
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Garone, Health, 18 Mar. 2025
Last season, Johnson led a turnaround and the Gophers went 19-15, but programs with more NIL money poached two of the team's top players by offering them more lucrative deals, the Pioneer Press reported.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
In 2023, an Oregon man was fined $75,000 for poaching multiple game animals.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 6 Mar. 2025
He can’t because he’ll be sued for poaching a client, but this phone call quickly comes into play.
—Ayan Artan, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poach
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Verb
Skip the butter on veggies or meats by air frying, poaching, or steaming.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 18 Mar. 2025
Last season, Johnson led a turnaround and the Gophers went 19-15, but programs with more NIL money poached two of the team's top players by offering them more lucrative deals, the Pioneer Press reported.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
In 2023, an Oregon man was fined $75,000 for poaching multiple game animals.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 6 Mar. 2025
He can’t because he’ll be sued for poaching a client, but this phone call quickly comes into play.
—Ayan Artan, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poach
Cite this Entry
“Poach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poach. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poach
1 of 2 verb
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached eggs
poach
2 of 2 verb
: to hunt or fish unlawfully
poacher
noun
Etymology
Verb
Middle English pochen "to boil an egg without its shell so that the white covers the yolk like a bag," from early French pocher (same meaning), from earlier pochier, literally, "to put into a bag," from poche "bag, pocket"
Verb
from early French pocher "to hunt or fish unlawfully"
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