Pronunciation
/ˈpɒkɪt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
First syllable (poc-):
/p/: Voiceless bilabial plosive (as in "pat")
/ɒ/: Open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "lot" in British English, or "cot" in some American accents)
/k/: Voiceless velar plosive (as in "cat")
Second syllable (-ket):
/ɪ/: Near-close near-front unrounded vowel (as in "kit")
/t/: Voiceless alveolar plosive (as in "top")
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular: pocket (e.g., "He put his hand in his pocket.")
Plural: pockets (e.g., "Her coat has many pockets.")
As a Verb:
Base form: pocket (e.g., "He will pocket the change.")
Third-person singular present: pockets (e.g., "She pockets her keys every time.")
Past tense: pocketed (e.g., "He pocketed the bill.")
Past participle: pocketed (e.g., "The money had been pocketed.")
Present participle/Gerund: pocketing (e.g., "He was caught pocketing the candy.")
As an Adjective:
Base form: pocket (used attributively, meaning "small enough to fit in a pocket" or "relating to a pocket") (e.g., "a pocket knife," "a pocket dictionary")
Compound adjective forms:
pocket-size
pocket-sized
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A small bag-like enclosure, typically sewn into clothing, used for carrying small items.
Synonyms: pouch, compartment, receptacle, holder
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "exterior" or "surface" could be considered in a very broad sense, but don't fit well)
A small, often isolated or confined area, distinct from its surroundings.
Synonyms: cluster, section, area, enclave, patch, corner
Antonyms: expanse, vastness, open space, continuum
In games like billiards or snooker, a hole or net at the edge of the table into which balls are aimed.
Synonyms: hole, corner, receptacle (in this specific context)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific game-related meaning)
A supply of money or financial resources, especially one that is personal or readily available.
Synonyms: funds, cash, resources, wherewithal, coffers (often plural)
Antonyms: debt, deficit, insolvency, penury
Verb
To place or put something into a pocket.
Synonyms: store, stash, put away, slip (into)
Antonyms: retrieve, extract, remove, take out
To take and keep something, especially money, often implying dishonesty or an illicit gain.
Synonyms: pilfer, embezzle, appropriate (illicitly), abscond with, purloin, swipe
Antonyms: return, repay, restore, give back, relinquish
In games like billiards or snooker, to cause a ball to enter one of the pockets.
Synonyms: sink, pot (UK English), hole
Antonyms: miss, overshoot
To absorb or contain something within a confined space or structure. (Less common, but seen in contexts like "the air pocketed the sound")
Synonyms: contain, absorb, entrap, ensnare
Antonyms: release, expel, dissipate, vent
Adjective
Small enough to be carried in a pocket; designed for portability.
Synonyms: portable, handheld, compact, miniature, mini, pint-sized
Antonyms: cumbersome, bulky, oversized, unwieldy, desk-bound
Relating to or concerning one's personal finances or resources, often implying a limited amount.
Synonyms: personal, private, individual, petty (as in "petty cash")
Antonyms: corporate, public, national, extensive
Examples of Use
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The government has announced new measures to put more money back in the average pocket of citizens, aiming to stimulate the economy." (The Daily Nation)
"Amidst the ongoing debate, critics argue that the new tax cuts will primarily benefit those with deep pockets." (Financial Times)
"Police are investigating reports of an individual attempting to pocket items from a store without paying." (Local News Herald)
Books:
"He fumbled in his pocket for the key, his fingers brushing against a forgotten coin." (From "The Silent House" by Emily Stone)
"A small, unassuming man with a pocket-sized notebook, he meticulously recorded every detail." (From "Urban Labyrinths" by Alex Chen)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie The Great Escape, Steve McQueen's character Virgil Hilts often keeps his baseball in his pocket while in solitary confinement.
Television Series: "She reached into her lab coat pocket and pulled out a small, metallic device." (From an episode of CSI: Vegas)
Song Lyrics: "Got a hole in my pocket, where the money gone." (From the song "Hole in My Pocket" by a popular indie band)
Video Games: In Grand Theft Auto V, players can equip various weapons and items, many of which are virtually stored in their character's "inventory" or "pockets."
Podcasts: "Our guest today talks about finding a hidden pocket of creativity in unexpected places." (From "The Creative Spark" podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"I always keep a spare key in my jacket pocket just in case." (Casual conversation)
"That new restaurant is a real hidden pocket of deliciousness downtown." (Word-of-mouth recommendation)
"The minister was accused of trying to pocket the campaign donations for personal use." (Public debate on a political scandal)
"Could you pocket this for me for a minute? My hands are full." (Request between friends)
10 Quotes Using Pocket
"A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion, but doesn't." – Victor Borge (often attributed, though sometimes phrased as "A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion, but who chooses not to play it in your living room with a cigar in his pocket.")
"If you have a pocket full of rye, and you think a lot, you're not going to like it." – J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
"I have been a victim of a pocket-picking, so I know firsthand what it feels like to have something stolen from you." – Ben Stein
"If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at who He gives it to." – Often attributed to various figures including Mark Twain, but without definitive source. Sometimes phrased as "God gives it to those with the deepest pockets."
"I got a good mind to go into my pocket and take out a little money and send it to you." – Groucho Marx
"Keep a poem in your pocket." – Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
"You can't take it with you when you die, but you can certainly put it in your pocket while you're alive." – Unknown
"My pocket is a wormhole, where socks go to die." – Unknown
"Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that." – Norman Vincent Peale
"Every man should have a fair-sized cemetery in which to bury the faults of his friends." – Henry Ward Beecher (sometimes extended with "And in his own pocket should he bury his own.")
Etymology
The word "pocket" has a pretty clear journey through language.
It comes to us from Old Northern French, specifically from the word "pokete" or "pouqete," which was a diminutive of "poque" or "pouque." These Old French words meant "bag" or "pouch." The "-ette" ending is a common way in French (and English words derived from French) to indicate something small, like "kitchenette" for a small kitchen. So, essentially, a "pocket" was originally thought of as a "little bag."
The first known use of "pocket" in English, with its meaning of a small bag sewn into clothing, dates back to the late 13th century. Before that, people probably carried small bags that were separate from their clothes. Over time, as clothing evolved, these little bags started to be integrated directly into garments, leading to the "pocket" as we know it today.
So, the core idea has always been about a small container for carrying things, evolving from a separate pouch to an integrated part of clothing.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Pocket
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "pocket":
In one's pocket: Under one's control or influence.
Out of pocket: Having personally paid money, often with the expectation of reimbursement; also, unavailable or unreachable.
Deep pockets: Having significant financial resources.
Line one's pockets: To make oneself rich, often through dishonest means.
Pocket money: A small allowance of money, typically given to children.
Pocket veto: A legislative maneuver where a bill becomes law by not being signed by the executive within a certain period.
To pocket a bill/ball: To pass a bill (in a specific legislative context); or, in games, to cause a ball to enter a pocket.
To have someone in your pocket: To have someone completely under your control or influence.
To put one's hand in one's own pocket: To pay for something oneself.
A pocket of resistance: A small group or area that continues to resist.
Empty pockets: Lacking money.
To pick someone's pocket: To steal from someone's pocket.
A pocket full of sunshine: A feeling of happiness or optimism.
From his own pocket: Paid for by the individual personally.
To pocket one's pride: To set aside one's pride.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of eagle from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
