brew

1 of 2

verb

brewed; brewing; brews

transitive verb

1
: to prepare (beer, ale, etc.) by steeping, boiling, and fermentation or by infusion and fermentation
2
a
: to bring about : foment
brew trouble
b
3
: to prepare (a drink or other liquid) by infusion in hot water
brew tea

intransitive verb

1
: to brew beer or ale
2
: to be in the process of forming
a storm is brewing
brewer
ˈbrü-ər How to pronounce brew (audio)
ˈbru̇(-ə)r
noun

brew

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a brewed beverage (such as beer)
b
: a serving of a brewed beverage
quaff a few brews
c
: something produced by or as if by brewing
2
: the process of brewing

Examples of brew in a Sentence

Verb They brew the beer on the premises. The restaurant also brews its own ginger ale and root beer. They've been brewing in the new brewery since March. I'll brew another pot of tea. It feels like there's a storm brewing. Noun I'll buy you a brew. a manufacturer of specialty brews a perfect cup of brew time for a quick brew
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
This will allow the machine to automatically adjust to the pressure and flow-rate to properly brew the specific type of coffee (like higher pressure for espresso versus lower pressure for drip). Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Could there be trouble brewing between Farmer Brandon and Joy? Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024 Two of Japan’s largest automakers are planning on reducing their presence in China as local rivals surge ahead in the electric vehicle race and a price war continues to brew, the Nikkei reported. William Gavin, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024 Yet trouble brewed when the 30-year-old’s opening drive went sailing into the rough on the right of the 18th fairway. Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 The unionization effort was already brewing when Benedict first joined YouTube Music in a fully remote role in September 2022, according to his LinkedIn. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 For months, anger has been brewing in publishing about Spotify’s treatment of audiobooks, especially around compensation. Mia Sato, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024 Over the last couple of years, a mystery has been brewing in this small mountain town. Dara Kerr, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 Special beer would be brewed by the monks for that purpose — stronger, richer and darker to sustain the monks during their fast. Don Tse, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Jameson cold brew shots for $5, swag from West Side Brewing and more. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 The smooth brew contains corn barley, and rye and is sold at Falls City Beer. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 11 Mar. 2024 Viewing will also be available at 2462 Riopelle St. at Eastern Market to livestream the draft while enjoying Detroit City Distillery's brews. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024 Paired with Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock — the famed Black Hippy quartet at the center of Top Dawg Entertainment — Schoolboy Q has long seemed like the hooded thug quietly nursing a brew in the corner of the room, only to startle his friends with an energetic, hair-raising party chant. Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 Their chef, Roger Evaristo, is from Brazil and has prepared a menu of burgers, pizzas and sandwiches and pairing items with a craft brew. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2024 Here's how to get a brew onto the bracket. ⚖️ Biden's FTC sues to kill Kroger takeover of Albertsons. The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024 The relatively liberal culture of Athens, its local immigration policies, and the border crisis have combined with a brutal crime to create a toxic brew at Georgia’s flagship university, where student politics runs the gamut. Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Its earliest brews in the works include a peach sour, a tropical double IPA and a stout. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brew.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English brēowan; akin to Latin fervēre to boil — more at barm

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1510, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of brew was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near brew

Cite this Entry

“Brew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brew. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brew

1 of 2 verb
1
: to make (as beer or ale) from water, malt, and hops
2
: to try to bring about : plot, plan
brew mischief
3
: to prepare (as tea) by soaking in hot water
4
: to start to form
a storm is brewing
brewer
ˈbrü-ər How to pronounce brew (audio)
ˈbru̇(-ə)r
noun

brew

2 of 2 noun
: a brewed beverage

More from Merriam-Webster on brew

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!