Pocket: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is best used when talking about a small part of clothing where you can keep small items like keys, phone, or money.

• I put my keys in my pocket.
• He found a note in his coat pocket.

Use this term for small, soft bags often used to carry small personal items, like coins or cosmetics.

• He keeps his coins in a small pouch.
• She has a pouch for her makeup brushes.

This word is appropriate when referring to a larger container made of flexible material that you use to carry things, like groceries, books, or personal items.

• She carried her books in a bag.
• He bought a new laptop bag.

This is typically used to describe a large, strong bag made of cloth, paper, or plastic, often used for carrying large quantities, like potatoes or grain. It can have a slightly negative or informal tone.

• They carried the potatoes in a sack.
• He threw his dirty laundry into a sack.

This word is commonly used to describe a small, enclosed space in clothing or bags where items can be kept.

• He put his keys in his pocket.
• She found a ten-dollar bill in her coat pocket.

Often used in a medical or biological context to describe a hollow space within a body or organ.

• The dentist said I have a cavity in one of my molars.
• The chest cavity contains the heart and lungs.

A general term used to describe an empty or available area, can be physical or conceptual.

• We need more space for the new furniture.
• There is a parking space available in front of the building.

Describes an opening or gap, often in a surface or material. Can have negative connotations if it implies damage or absence.

• There's a hole in my sock.
• The dog dug a hole in the backyard.

When you take something, usually a small item, and keep it without anyone knowing. This is often used in everyday contexts and doesn’t necessarily imply a serious crime, but it can be negative.

• He found a coin on the ground and decided to pocket it
• She pocketed a few pens before leaving the office

A general term used for taking something that does not belong to you. It can be used in everyday conversation to refer to all kinds of theft, from petty to serious. It always has a negative connotation.

• He tried to steal a bike from the park
• She was caught stealing money from the cash register

This word is used in legal and financial contexts when someone steals money or assets entrusted to their care. It always has a strong negative connotation and implies serious wrongdoing.

• The accountant embezzled thousands of dollars from the company
• He was convicted of embezzling funds from his clients

Used in formal contexts when someone takes something for their own use, typically without permission. This can be in a business or official setting and often has a serious or negative connotation.

• The manager was fired because he appropriated funds from the company account
• They appropriated office supplies for personal use