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
Sherry McAllister,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The new species could help prevent poaching and is detailed in a study published today in the journal Communications Biology.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
1 July 2026
Following the disappointing launch of Llama 4 last year, Meta went on an AI hiring spree, spending tens of millions to poach people from its rivals.
—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
1 July 2026
Kessler will have a market — and, again, the Lakers would love to poach him.
—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poach
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Verb
Twenty years ago, the Serengeti ecosystem faced a severe crisis from poaching and ecological imbalance, threatening wildlife and local communities.
—
Sherry McAllister,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The new species could help prevent poaching and is detailed in a study published today in the journal Communications Biology.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
1 July 2026
Following the disappointing launch of Llama 4 last year, Meta went on an AI hiring spree, spending tens of millions to poach people from its rivals.
—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
1 July 2026
Kessler will have a market — and, again, the Lakers would love to poach him.
—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poach
Cite this Entry
“Poach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poach. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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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