poker

1 of 2

noun (1)

pok·​er ˈpō-kər How to pronounce poker (audio)
: one that pokes
especially : a metal rod for stirring a fire

poker

2 of 2

noun (2)

po·​ker ˈpō-kər How to pronounce poker (audio)
: any of several card games in which a player bets that the value of his or her hand is greater than that of the hands held by others, in which each subsequent player must either equal or raise the bet or drop out, and in which the player holding the highest hand at the end of the betting wins the pot

Illustration of poker

Illustration of poker
  • 1 five of a kind
  • 2 royal flush
  • 3 straight flush
  • 4 four of a kind
  • 5 full house
  • 6 flush
  • 7 straight
  • 8 three of a kind
  • 9 two pair
  • 10 one pair

Examples of poker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
These apps offer a mix of casino games, sports betting, and even exclusive poker rooms. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 According to the study, Michigan leads the nation in money wagered with $1.92 billion bet on poker, blackjack and other online casino games. Jordan Green, Detroit Free Press, 26 Feb. 2024 Rob Riggle Rob Riggle played in a charity poker tournament at the 37th annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party Saturday afternoon at the Ahern Luxury Boutique Hotel, where people lined up to be photographed on the red carpet. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2024 Melinda Newman: This is a full house for Beyoncé, the type of hand that any poker player would be excited to have and one that doesn’t come along every day, but isn’t so rare and unattainable as a royal flush. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2024 This Week Women are generally conditioned to accommodate to other’s wants and needs at the expense of their own, and that mindset doesn’t work at the poker table. Bonnie Marcus, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Other states offering internet gambling are Connecticut, West Virginia and Delaware; Nevada offers online poker only. Wayne Parry, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2024 That’s a huge quantity that contains tons of fantastic slots, video poker games, scratchcards and more. Arnette Leonetti, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 The event includes live music, poker run, raffle and activities for kids at the former Black Lake Hotel located at 1701 Winifred St. in Cheboygan. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

probably modification of French poque, a card game similar to poker

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1534, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poker was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near poker

Cite this Entry

“Poker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poker. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

poker

1 of 2 noun
pok·​er ˈpō-kər How to pronounce poker (audio)
: one that pokes
especially : a metal rod for stirring a fire

poker

2 of 2 noun
po·​ker ˈpō-kər How to pronounce poker (audio)
: a card game in which a player bets on the value of his or her hand

More from Merriam-Webster on poker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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