pond

1 of 2

noun

ˈpänd How to pronounce pond (audio)
Synonyms of pondnext
: a body of water usually smaller than a lake
a fishing pond
—sometimes used with the to refer informally or facetiously to the Atlantic Ocean

pond

2 of 2

verb

ponded; ponding; ponds

transitive verb

: to block (something, such as a stream) to create a pond

intransitive verb

: to collect in or form a pond
rain ponding on the road

Examples of pond in a Sentence

Noun They moved here from across the pond.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
These dragonflies live near bodies of water, preferring those with calm currents, like ponds, wetlands, or slow-moving streams. — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 Days later, her truck is found submerged in a Palm Bay pond with blood inside, but Hall is nowhere to be found. — Eileen Murphy, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 The landscape, protected by one of Wyoming’s earliest conservation easements, includes four mountain ponds and 600 feet of trout stream along Little Goose Creek. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026 The first is at Orvis Hot Springs, a clothing-optional resort in Ridgway with natural hot spring soaking pools, plus a dry sauna and a cold plunge pond off to the side, framed by the San Juan Mountains. — Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pond

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ponde artificially confined body of water, probably alteration of pounde enclosure — more at pound

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1673, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of pond was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing pond

Rhymes for pond

See All Rhymes for pond

Browse Nearby Words

Poncirus
pond
pondage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pond. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pond

noun
ˈpänd
: a body of water usually smaller than a lake

More from Merriam-Webster on pond

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pond

Nglish: Translation of pond for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pond

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