# potion

/ˈpoʊʃən/ (US) · /pˈəʊʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/potion
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a liquid that people believe has special or magical powers. You often hear about it in stories where someone drinks it to heal or change their appearance.

For teachers: a liquid mixture with medicinal, magical, or poisonous properties. Often associated with mythology, folklore, or historical alchemy.

## Examples

- The witch brewed a green potion in her large pot.
- In the fairy tale, the prince drank a magic potion to turn back into a human.
- The old manuscript contained several recipes for herbal potions intended to cure insomnia, though modern science suggests their effectiveness was likely due to the placebo effect.

## Usage notes

- Commonly paired with adjectives like 'magic', 'healing', or 'love'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
