potter

1 of 2

noun

pot·​ter ˈpä-tər 

: one that makes pottery

potter

2 of 2

verb

pottered; pottering; potters

intransitive verb

: putter

potterer

ˈpä-tər-ər 

noun

potteringly

ˈpä-tə-riŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Verb

• doodle
• fiddle (around)
• fool around
• fribble
• goof (around)
• hang about [British]
• kick around
• mess around
• monkey (around)
• play
• putter (around)
• trifle

Examples of potter in a Sentence

Verb

pottering around indoors on a rainy day

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It is believed that the people buried in the potter’s field are stacked on top of each other, Groat explained. —Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025

Under expert guidance, budding potters can get their hands dirty from the jump. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 23 May 2025

Verb

One rainy afternoon, the kindly octogenarian — wrapped in a warm leopard print jumper — stops pottering around and sinks into her favorite chair to call her daughter. —David Opie, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2025

This was a frequent chorus from my siblings and me as children, as our grandmother pottered about the kitchen chewing on a stick that looked a bit like sugarcane, fixing a drink brewed with honey and lemon. —Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably frequentative of English dialect pote to poke

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1829, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing potter

• potter around/about
• potter's clay
• potter's field
• potter's wheel

Rhymes for potter

• blotter
• cotter
• daughter
• hotter
• mater
• otter
• plotter
• rotter
• slaughter
• spotter
• squatter
• totter

Kids Definition

potter

1 of 2 noun

pot·​ter ˈpät-ər 

: one that makes pottery

potter

2 of 2 verb

: putter entry 3

potterer noun

Biographical Definition

Potter 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Pot·​ter ˈpä-tər 

Beatrix 1866–1943 British writer and illustrator

Potter

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Paul or Paulus 1625–1654 Dutch painter