Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense pockets, present participle pocketing, past tense, past participle pocketed
1. countable noun [oft poss NOUN, noun NOUN]
A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is usedfor carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief.
He took his flashlight from his jacket pocket and switched it on.
The man stood with his hands in his pockets.
2. countable noun
You can use pocket in a lot of different ways to refer to money that people have, get, or spend. For example, if someone gives or pays a lot of money, you can say that they dig deep into their pocket. If you approve of something because it is very cheap to buy, you can say that it suits people's pockets.
It really is worth digging deep into your pocket for the best you can afford.
...ladies' fashions to suit all shapes, sizes and pockets.
You would be buying a piece of history as well as a boat, if you put your hand inyour pocket for this one.
We don't believe that they have the economic reforms in place which would justifyputting huge sums of Western money into their pockets.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use pocket to describe something that is small enough to fit into a pocket, often something that is a smaller version of a larger item.
...a pocket calculator.
...my pocket edition of the Collins Spanish Dictionary.
4. countable noun
A pocketof something is a small area where something is happening, or a small area which has a particular quality, and which is different from theother areas around it.
He survived the earthquake after spending 3 days in an air pocket.
The army controls the city apart from a few pockets of resistance. [+ of]
Synonyms: area, centre, island, district More Synonyms of pocket
5. verb
If someone who is in possession of something valuable such as a sum of money pockets it, they steal it or take it for themselves, even though it does not belong to them.
Dishonest importers would be able to pocket the VAT collected from customers. [VERB noun]
6. verb
If you say that someone pockets something such as a prize or sum of money, you mean that they win or obtain it, oftenwithout needing to make much effort or in a way that seems unfair.
[journalism]
He pocketed more money from this tournament than in his entire three years as a professional. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If someone pockets something, they put it in their pocket, for example because they want to steal it or hide it.
Anthony snatched his letters and pocketed them. [VERB noun]
He pocketed a wallet containing £40 cash from the bedside of a dead man. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: steal, take, lift [informal], appropriate More Synonyms of pocket
8.
See burn a hole in someone's pocket
9.
See in someone's pocket
10.
See to line your pockets
11.
See out of pocket
12. See also out-of-pocket
13.
See to pick someone's pocket
More Synonyms of pocket
pocket in British English
(ˈpɒkɪt)
noun
1.
a small bag or pouch in a garment for carrying small articles, money, etc
2.
any bag or pouch or anything resembling this
3.
a.
a cavity or hollow in the earth, etc, such as one containing gold or other ore
b.
the ore in such a place
4.
a small enclosed or isolated area
a pocket of resistance
5. billiards, snooker
any of the six holes with pouches or nets let into the corners and sides of a billiard table
6.
a position in a race in which a competitor is hemmed in
7. sport
an area of the field where a player is shielded from opponents and has an opportunity to control attacking play
8. Australian Rules football
a player in one of two side positions at the ends of the ground
back pocket
forward pocket
9. South Africa
a bag or sack of vegetables or fruit
10. in one's pocket
11. in pocket
12. out of pocket
13. line one's pockets
14. (modifier)
suitable for fitting in a pocket; small
a pocket edition
15. (modifier) poker slang
denoting a pair formed from the two private cards dealt to a player in a game of Texas hold 'em
pocket queens
verbWord forms: -ets, -eting or -eted(transitive)
16.
to put into one's pocket
17.
to take surreptitiously or unlawfully; steal
18. (usually passive)
to enclose or confine in or as if in a pocket
19.
to receive (an insult, injury, etc) without retaliating
20.
to conceal or keep back (feelings)
he pocketed his pride and accepted help
21. billiards, snooker
to drive (a ball) into a pocket
22. US
(esp of the President) to retain (a bill) without acting on it in order to prevent it from becoming law
See also pocket veto
23.
to hem in (an opponent), as in racing
Derived forms
pocketable (ˈpocketable)
adjective
pocketless (ˈpocketless)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Anglo-Norman poket a little bag, from poque bag, from Middle Dutch pokepoke2, bag; related to French poche pocket
pocket in American English
(ˈpɑkɪt)
noun
1. Archaic
a sack, esp. when used to measure something
2.
a.
a little bag or pouch, now usually sewn into or on clothing, for carrying money and small articles
b.
any usually small container, compartment, enclosure, etc.
3.
a cavity that holds or can hold something
4.
a small area or group of a specified type
a pocket of poverty
5.
a confining or frustrating situation
6.
financial resources; funds; means
a drain on one's pocket
7.
a position of being hemmed in by other contestants so as to be held back
8. Aeronautics
air pocket
9. US, Baseball
a hollow in a baseball mitt where the ball can be securely caught and held
10. Bowling
the space between two pins, esp. the head pin and the pin next to it
11. American Football
the protected area behind the offensive line, from which the quarterback passes the ball
12. Geology
a.
a cavity filled with ore, oil, gas, or water
b.
a small deposit of ore
13. Pool
any of the pouches at the sides and corners of a billiard or pool table
14. Zoology
a sac or pouch in an animal's body
adjective
15.
a.
that is or can be carried in a pocket
b.
smaller than standard
16.
not widespread; contained; isolated
pocket resistance
verb transitive
17.
to put into a pocket
18.
to provide with a pocket or pockets
19.
to envelop; enclose
20.
to take dishonestly; appropriate (money, profits, etc.) for one's own use
21.
to put up with (an insult, gibe, etc.) without answering or showing anger
22.
to hide, suppress, or set aside
pocket one's pride
23. US, Politics
to prevent passage of (a bill) by the pocket veto
Idioms:
in someone's pocket
in pocket
out of pocket
Word origin
ME poket < Anglo-Fr pokete, for MFr dial. poquette, dim. of poque, poche: see poach2
More idioms containing
pocket
burn a hole in your pocket
dip into your pocket
in someone's pocket
out of pocket
COBUILD Collocations
pocket
back pocket
coat pocket
inside pocket
jacket pocket
pocket full of
shirt pocket
Examples of 'pocket' in a sentence
pocket
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
He earned pocket money as an assistant tennis coach.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Is that really a knife in his back pocket?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They may not have dug too deep into their pockets.
The Sun (2016)
But he insists he is happy to keep his money in his pocket until the summer.
The Sun (2016)
Think how much you'd miss those giant pockets big enough to carry a sandwich and a Coke.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Tax cuts will leave more in people 's pockets to spend and $1 trillion of infrastructure investment will reinforce demand for labour for a decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A weaker pound forces up inflation because imported goods become more expensive, taking money out of people 's pockets for spending elsewhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The most interesting nights you get different pockets within one audience feeling those things.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some are small enough to fit in a pocket.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It was a big player with deep pockets.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The move was blasted last night amid fears it is to mask the huge sums they pocket.
The Sun (2015)
Why would you not want to have that in your back pocket?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Deep pockets do not ease dark nights.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The company is big enough and has deep enough pockets to absorb the shocks.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
These smaller devices are easier to fit in a bag or pocket.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The sight of that red tab on the back pocket triggers something that is well worth triggering.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The ring was in his pocket and he put it back on.
The Sun (2014)
Pocket calculators existed before there were floppy disks.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
They have two large pockets which are positioned behind the saddle flap on either side.
Eccles, Lesley Your First Horse - buying, feeding, caring (1989)
Anything small enough to fit into a pocket or handbag should be stashed away until they leave.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It must be so nice to have pocket money!
Louisa May Alcott Little Women (1869)
Staff are furious that their benefits are being crunched while top brass pocket huge sums.
The Sun (2010)
It comes from completely different pockets.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Now it's just pockets of people.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That's a lot of pocket money.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Yet both players pocketed a cheque for 850,000.
The Sun (2009)
Before pockets there were pouches.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I can't love anything that isn't a pocket edition.
Christianity Today (2000)
Word lists with
pocket
parts of clothes, parts of clothing
In other languages
pocket
British English: pocket /ˈpɒkɪt/ NOUN
A pocket is a small bag or pouch that forms part of a piece of clothing.
...his jacket pocket.
American English: pocket
Arabic: جَيْب
Brazilian Portuguese: bolso
Chinese: 衣袋
Croatian: džep
Czech: kapsa
Danish: lomme
Dutch: zak in kleding
European Spanish: bolsillo
Finnish: tasku
French: poche
German: Tasche Bekleidung
Greek: τσέπη
Italian: tasca
Japanese: ポケット
Korean: 주머니
Norwegian: lomme
Polish: kieszeń
European Portuguese: bolso
Romanian: buzunar
Russian: карман
Latin American Spanish: bolsillo
Swedish: ficka
Thai: กระเป๋า
Turkish: cep
Ukrainian: кишеня
Vietnamese: túi
British English: pocket ADJECTIVE
You use pocket to describe something that is small enough to fit into a pocket, often something that is a smaller version of a larger item.
...a pocket calculator.
American English: pocket
Brazilian Portuguese: de bolso
Chinese: 袖珍的
European Spanish: de bolsillo
French: de poche
German: Taschen-
Italian: tascabile
Japanese: 小型の
Korean: 포켓형의
European Portuguese: de bolso
Latin American Spanish: de bolsillo
British English: pocket VERB
If someone who is in possession of something valuable such as a sum of money pockets it, they steal it or take it for themselves, even though it does not belong to them.
Banks have passed some of the savings on to customers and pocketed the rest.
American English: pocket
Brazilian Portuguese: embolsar
Chinese: 将…据为己有
European Spanish: embolsarse
French: empocher
German: kassieren
Italian: intascare
Japanese: 着服する
Korean: 착복하다
European Portuguese: embolsar
Latin American Spanish: embolsarse
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'pocket'
in pocket
having made a profit , as after a transaction
air pocket
a localized region of low air density or a descending air current , causing an aircraft to suffer an abrupt decrease in height
back pocket
A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is used for carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief .
coat pocket
A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is used for carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief .
deep pocket
extensive financial resources ; great wealth
hip pocket
a pocket at the back of a pair of trousers
pocket book
a book small enough to be carried in one's pocket
pocket door
a door , usually one of a communicating pair, that slides into and out of a recess in a doorway wall
pocket rat
→ kangaroo rat (sense 1 )
pocket-size
of a relatively small size; esp., of a size to fit in the pocket
pocket veto
the action of the President in retaining unsigned a bill passed by Congress within the last ten days of a session and thus causing it to die
slit pocket
a pocket on the underside of a garment, reached through a vertical opening
vest pocket
the pocket of a waistcoat
breast pocket
The breast pocket of a coat or jacket is a pocket, usually on the inside , next to the wearer's chest.
cargo pocket
a large patch pocket , usually pleated at the sides and often having a flap
inside pocket
A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is used for carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief .
jacket pocket
A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is used for carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief .
patch pocket
a pocket on the outside of a garment
pocket drive
a small portable memory device that can be plugged into the USB port of many different types of computer
pocket gopher
→ gopher 1 (sense 1 )
pocket knife
A pocket knife is a small knife with several blades which fold into the handle so that you can carry it around with you safely.
pocket money
Pocket money is money which children are given by their parents, usually every week .
pocket mouse
any small mouselike rodent with cheek pouches , of the genus Perognathus, of desert regions of W North America : family Heteromyidae
pocket-sized
If you describe something as pocket-sized , you approve of it because it is small enough to fit in your pocket.
shirt pocket
A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is used for carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief .
slash pocket
a pocket in which the opening is a slit in the seam of a garment
watch pocket
a pocket , esp in a waistcoat , for keeping a pocket watch in
pocket borough
(before the Reform Act of 1832) an English borough constituency controlled by one person or family who owned the land
trouser pocket
a pocket in a pair of trousers
out of pocket
Out-of-pocket expenses are those which you pay out of your own money on behalf of someone else, and which are often paid back to you later .
pocket battleship
a small heavily armoured and armed battle cruiser specially built to conform with treaty limitations on tonnage and armament , esp any of those built by Germany in the 1930s
pocket billiards
any game played on a table in which the object is to pocket the balls , esp snooker and pool
pocket calculator
a small electronic device for performing mathematical calculations
pocket dictionary
a small portable dictionary
pocket full of
A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is used for carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief .
in one's pocket
under one's control
pocket-handkerchief
a handkerchief that is carried in a pocket
in someone's pocket
If you say that someone is in someone else's pocket , you disapprove of the fact that the first person is willing to do whatever the second person tells them, for example out of weakness or in return for money.
dip into your pocket
to pay for something with your own money
keyring drive
a small portable memory device that can be plugged into the USB port of many different types of computer
USB key
a small portable memory device that can be plugged into the USB port of many different types of computer
out-of-pocket expenses
expenses which are unbudgeted and paid for in cash
to pick someone's pocket
If someone picks your pocket , they steal something from your pocket, usually without you noticing .
burn a hole in your pocket
if money is burning a hole in your pocket , you are very eager to spend it as soon as possible , especially on something you do not really need but would like to have
burn a hole in someone's pocket
If you say that some money is burning a hole in someone's pocket , you mean that they want to spend it as soon as possible.
gopher
A gopher is a small animal which looks a bit like a rat and lives in holes in the ground . Gophers are found in Canada and the USA.
Chinese translation of 'pocket'
pocket
(ˈpɔkɪt)
n(c)
(in jacket, trousers, shirt, skirt) 口袋 (kǒudài) (个(個), gè)
(in suitcase, car door, handbag) 袋子 (dàizi)
(fig, = small area)[of air, resistance]小范(範)围(圍) (xiǎofànwéi)
cpd
[calculator, dictionary]袖珍的 (xiùzhēn de)
vt
(= take) 把 ... 据(據)为(為)己有 (bǎ ... jù wéi jǐyǒu)
(= steal)[money, document]据(據)为(為)己有 (jù wéi jǐyǒu)
to put money in sb's pocket把钱(錢)放入某人腰包 (bǎ qián fàngrù mǒurén yāobāo)
to be out of pocket (Brit) 赔(賠)钱(錢) (péiqián)
1 (noun)
Definition
any pouchlike container, esp. for catching balls at the edge of a snooker table
a canvas container with customised pockets for each tool
Synonyms
pouch
a leather pouch full of tobacco
bag
She left the hotel carrying a shopping bag.
sack
a sack of potatoes
hollow
compartment
receptacle
2 (noun)
There are PCs to suit every pocket.
Synonyms
budget
A designer would be beyond their budget.
means
finances
resources
3 (noun)
Definition
a small isolated area or group
There are a few remaining pockets of resistance in the city.
Synonyms
area
the large number of community groups in the area
centre
island
district
I drove around the business district.
patch
the little vegetable patch in her backyard
cluster
(modifier)
Definition
small
a pocket dictionary
Synonyms
small
compact
miniature
portable
little
potted (informal)
concise
pint-size(d) (informal)
abridged
1 (verb)
Definition
to take secretly or dishonestly
He pocketed some coins he found on the street.
Synonyms
steal
Anybody could walk in here and steal stuff.
take
The burglars took just about anything they could carry.
lift (informal)
a cartoonish device lifted from a Laurel and Hardy sequence
appropriate
What do they think about your appropriating their music and culture?
trouser (slang)
cabbage (British, slang)
knock off (slang)
pilfer
Staff were pilfering cash from the bar.
purloin (formal)
He was caught purloining books from the library.
filch
I filched some notes from his wallet.
help yourself to
snaffle (British, informal)
2 (verb)
Synonyms
bear
She bore her sufferings bravely.
take
His rudeness was becoming hard to take.
accept
Urban dwellers have to accept noise as part of city life.
stomach
I could never stomach the cruelty involved in the wounding of animals.
endure
I simply can't endure another moment of her company.
swallow (informal)
I too found this story a little hard to swallow.
brook
The army will brook no weakening of its power.
tolerate
She can no longer tolerate the position that she's in.
put up with (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accept
Definition
to tolerate or resign oneself to
Urban dwellers have to accept noise as part of city life.
Synonyms
stand,
take,
experience,
suffer,
bear,
allow,
weather,
cope with,
tolerate,
sustain,
put up with,
wear (British, slang),
stomach,
endure,
undergo,
brook,
hack (slang),
abide,
withstand,
submit to,
bow to,
yield to,
countenance,
defer to,
like it or lump it (informal)
in the sense of appropriate
Definition
to take for one's own use without permission
What do they think about your appropriating their music and culture?
Synonyms
steal,
take,
nick (slang, British),
pocket,
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
pirate,
poach,
swipe (slang),
lift (informal),
knock off (slang),
heist (US, slang),
embezzle,
blag (slang),
pilfer,
misappropriate,
snitch (slang),
purloin,
filch,
plagiarize,
thieve,
peculate (literary)
in the sense of bag
Definition
a flexible container with an opening at one end
She left the hotel carrying a shopping bag.
Synonyms
sack,
container,
poke (Scottish),
sac,
receptacle
Synonyms of 'pocket'
pocket
Explore 'pocket' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of brook
Definition
to bear
The army will brook no weakening of its power.
Synonyms
tolerate,
stand,
allow,
suffer,
accept,
bear,
stomach,
endure,
swallow,
hack (slang),
abide,
put up with (informal),
withstand,
countenance,
support,
thole (dialect)
in the sense of district
Definition
an area which has recognizable or special features
I drove around the business district.
Synonyms
area,
community,
region,
sector,
quarter,
ward,
parish,
neighbourhood,
vicinity,
locality,
locale,
neck of the woods (informal)
in the sense of endure
Definition
to tolerate or put up with
I simply can't endure another moment of her company.
Synonyms
put up with,
stand,
suffer,
bear,
allow,
accept,
stick (slang),
take (informal),
permit,
stomach,
swallow,
brook,
tolerate,
hack (slang),
abide,
submit to,
countenance,
stick out (informal),
take patiently
in the sense of filch
Definition
to steal in small amounts
I filched some notes from his wallet.
Synonyms
steal,
take,
thieve,
pinch (informal),
lift (informal),
nick (slang, British),
trouser (slang),
abstract,
rip off (slang),
cabbage (British, slang),
swipe (slang),
knock off (slang),
crib (informal),
half-inch (old-fashioned, slang),
embezzle,
pilfer,
walk off with,
misappropriate,
purloin (formal),
snaffle (British, informal)
in the sense of lift
Definition
to plagiarize (music or writing)
a cartoonish device lifted from a Laurel and Hardy sequence
Synonyms
steal,
take,
copy,
appropriate,
nick (slang, British),
pocket,
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
pirate,
cabbage (British, slang),
knock off (slang),
crib (informal),
half-inch (old-fashioned, slang),
blag (slang),
pilfer,
purloin (formal),
plagiarize,
thieve
in the sense of patch
Definition
a small plot of land
the little vegetable patch in her backyard
Synonyms
plot,
area,
ground,
land,
tract
in the sense of pilfer
Definition
to steal (minor items) in small quantities
Staff were pilfering cash from the bar.
Synonyms
steal,
take,
rob,
lift (informal),
nick (slang, British),
appropriate,
trouser (slang),
rifle,
pinch (informal),
cabbage (British, slang),
swipe (slang),
knock off (slang),
embezzle,
blag (slang),
walk off with,
snitch (slang),
purloin,
filch,
snaffle (British, informal),
thieve
in the sense of purloin
Definition
to steal
He was caught purloining books from the library.
Synonyms
steal,
rob,
lift (informal),
nick (slang, British),
appropriate,
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
cabbage (British, slang),
swipe (slang),
knock off (slang),
blag (slang),
pilfer,
walk off with,
snitch (slang),
filch,
prig (British, slang),
snaffle (British, informal),
thieve
in the sense of sack
Definition
a large bag made of coarse cloth or thick paper and used for carrying or storing goods
a sack of potatoes
Synonyms
bag,
pocket,
poke (Scottish),
sac,
pouch,
receptacle
in the sense of stomach
Definition
to put up with
I could never stomach the cruelty involved in the wounding of animals.
Synonyms
bear,
take,
tolerate,
suffer,
endure,
swallow,
hack (slang),
abide,
put up with (informal),
submit to,
reconcile or resign yourself to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of swallow
Definition
to believe (something) trustingly
I too found this story a little hard to swallow.
Synonyms
believe,
accept,
buy (slang),
fall for,
take (something) as gospel
in the sense of take
Definition
to obtain possession of (something), often dishonestly
The burglars took just about anything they could carry.
Synonyms
steal,
nick (slang, British),
appropriate,
pocket,
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
cabbage (British, slang),
carry off,
swipe (slang),
knock off (slang),
run off with,
blag (slang),
walk off with,
misappropriate,
cart off (slang),
purloin,
filch,
help yourself to,
gain possession of
in the sense of take
Definition
to stand up to or endure
His rudeness was becoming hard to take.
Synonyms
tolerate,
stand,
bear,
suffer,
weather,
go through,
brave,
stomach,
endure,
undergo,
swallow,
brook,
hack (slang),
abide,
put up with (informal),
withstand,
submit to,
countenance,
pocket,
thole (Scottish)
in the sense of tolerate
Definition
to put up with (someone or something)
She can no longer tolerate the position that she's in.