1
a(1)
: a small and rather deep body of usually fresh water
(2)
: a quiet place in a stream
(3)
: a body of water forming above a dam
b
: something resembling a pool
a pool of light
2
: a small body of standing liquid
3
: a continuous area of porous sedimentary rock that yields petroleum or gas
4
pooled; pooling; pools
1
: to form a pool
2
of blood
: to accumulate or become static (as in the veins of a bodily part)
1
a
: an aggregate stake to which each player of a game has contributed
b
: all the money bet by a number of persons on a particular event
2
a
: a game played on an English billiard table in which each of the players stakes a sum and the winner takes all
b
: any of various games of billiards played on an oblong table having 6 pockets with usually 15 object balls
3
: an aggregation of the interests or property of different persons made to further a joint undertaking by subjecting them to the same control and a common liability
4
: a readily available supply: such as
a
: the whole quantity of a particular material present in the body and available for function or the satisfying of metabolic demands
b
: a body product (such as blood) collected from many donors and stored for later use
c
: a group of people available for some purpose
a shrinking pool of applicants
typing pool
5
6
: a group of journalists from usually several news organizations using pooled resources (such as television equipment) to produce shared coverage especially of events to which access is restricted
pooled; pooling; pools
: to combine (things, such as resources) in a common pool or effort
Synonyms
Examples of pool in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Peltz, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024
To get there, the lawyers are sifting through the large jury pool, with about 500 candidates called for the first day of culling.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
April 16, 2024 The stately residence in Nashville's Oak Hill, listed for $9.7 million, spans more than 12,000 square feet with a secret passage, an au pair apartment, and a heated pool.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
Here, chunky golden nuggets of silken tofu are coated in corn scratch and lightly fried before being placed in a shallow pool of broth made from dashi, soy sauce and sweet mirin then topped with bonito flakes, spicy radish sprouts and ginger.
—Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Dive in:Dive right in: Your guide to public pools and aquatic centers in Central Indiana
Skyline Drive-In Theatre (Shelbyville)
3986 E. Michigan Road.
—The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Construction will begin soon on four indoor and two outdoor pickleball courts at the 35,000-square-foot athleisure destination, along with golf simulators, ping pong, pool tables, shuffleboard, cornhole and darts.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024
Industry pushback Commercial software companies are continuing to blast Direct File as unpopular and unnecessary — pointing out that its user pool is still dwarfed by those using other options.
—Julie Zauzmer Weil, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
In the backyard patio lies a hot tub, a saltwater pool and a covered deck, according to the listing.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 29 Mar. 2024
Fluids can also pool in this area, leading to swelling.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2024
The oversized pants pooled around her feet, spilling over her tan loafers.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024
Make sure there are no places standing water can pool, since mosquitoes need only a very small amount to lay eggs.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2024
Since then, the city has pooled the funds so they can be spent citywide.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
United said there's no limit to how many miles a group can pool together.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
States should therefore pool their funding more purposefully and much more regularly to ensure China’s stations are well monitored.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
There’s also a lovely sense of intergenerational generosity, as two sharp scientific minds pool their knowledge, and ultimately, as Zoya instills confidence in Paula to continue her work.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Among other things, Trump's lawyers maintain that the jury pool in overwhelmingly Democratic Manhattan has been tainted by negative publicity about Trump and that the case should be moved elsewhere.
—Jennifer Peltz, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024
To get there, the lawyers are sifting through the large jury pool, with about 500 candidates called for the first day of culling.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
April 16, 2024 The stately residence in Nashville's Oak Hill, listed for $9.7 million, spans more than 12,000 square feet with a secret passage, an au pair apartment, and a heated pool.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
Here, chunky golden nuggets of silken tofu are coated in corn scratch and lightly fried before being placed in a shallow pool of broth made from dashi, soy sauce and sweet mirin then topped with bonito flakes, spicy radish sprouts and ginger.
—Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Dive in:Dive right in: Your guide to public pools and aquatic centers in Central Indiana
Skyline Drive-In Theatre (Shelbyville)
3986 E. Michigan Road.
—The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Construction will begin soon on four indoor and two outdoor pickleball courts at the 35,000-square-foot athleisure destination, along with golf simulators, ping pong, pool tables, shuffleboard, cornhole and darts.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024
Industry pushback Commercial software companies are continuing to blast Direct File as unpopular and unnecessary — pointing out that its user pool is still dwarfed by those using other options.
—Julie Zauzmer Weil, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
In the backyard patio lies a hot tub, a saltwater pool and a covered deck, according to the listing.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
In 2019, two researchers from the University of Oxford pooled data on digital technology use and well-being in adolescents and concluded that screens do have a slight negative impact on well-being, but that the effect was very small.
—Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 29 Mar. 2024
Fluids can also pool in this area, leading to swelling.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2024
The oversized pants pooled around her feet, spilling over her tan loafers.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024
Make sure there are no places standing water can pool, since mosquitoes need only a very small amount to lay eggs.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2024
Since then, the city has pooled the funds so they can be spent citywide.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
United said there's no limit to how many miles a group can pool together.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
States should therefore pool their funding more purposefully and much more regularly to ensure China’s stations are well monitored.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
There’s also a lovely sense of intergenerational generosity, as two sharp scientific minds pool their knowledge, and ultimately, as Zoya instills confidence in Paula to continue her work.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pool.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pool. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pool
1 of 4 nounpool
2 of 4 verb
: to form a pool
pool
3 of 4 noun1
: the money bet by a number of persons on an event or in a game
2
: a game played on a billiard table having six pockets with usually 15 object balls
3
: a common fund for making investments
4
a
: a readily available supply
a pool of talent
a typing pool
b
: a group sharing in some activity
a car pool
pool
4 of 4 verb
: to contribute to a common fund or effort
pooled their resources
Etymology
Noun
Old English pōl "a small body of water"
Noun
from French poule "the amount of money bet in a card game," literally, "hen," derived from early French poul "a male chicken, cock" — related to pullet
Medical Definition
pool
1 of 2 intransitive verb
of blood
: to accumulate or become static (as in the veins of a bodily part)
blood pooled in his legs
pool
2 of 2 noun
: a readily available supply: as
a
: the whole quantity of a particular material present in the body and available for function or the satisfying of metabolic demands see gene pool, metabolic pool
b
: a body product (as blood) collected from many donors and stored for later use
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