pesto

noun

pes·​to ˈpe-(ˌ)stō How to pronounce pesto (audio)
: a sauce made especially of fresh basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese

Examples of pesto in a Sentence

Top the bread with pesto.
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.
Among recent offerings were the Ranch Revival Philly-style tri-tip and Gilroy Gold artichoke heart sandwich melts, pastas with pesto, alfredo or marinara sauces, a seasonal soup and a Moroccan stew. Kathe Tanner, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Place remaining pesto in an airtight container, and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil; cover and refrigerate. Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025 Clark’s pea-and-potato salad does right by the texture, a mix of chunky sauteed-pea-and-onion puree the consistency of pesto, smashed yellow potatoes, and fresh (raw) peas and white onion too. Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025 In theory, a cordless immersion blender provides a convenient way to bounce around the kitchen, blending soup on one side and flying over to make a batch of pesto on the other. Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pesto

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from pesto, adjective, pounded, from pestare to pound, from Late Latin pistare, frequentative of Latin pinsere

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pesto was in 1937

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pesto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pesto. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pesto

noun
pes·​to ˈpes-tō How to pronounce pesto (audio)
: a sauce made especially of fresh basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese

More from Merriam-Webster on pesto

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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