leaven

1 of 2

noun

leav·​en ˈle-vən How to pronounce leaven (audio)
1
a
: a substance (such as yeast) used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid
especially : sourdough
b
: a material (such as baking powder) used to produce a gas that lightens dough or batter
2
: something that modifies or lightens

leaven

2 of 2

verb

leavened; leavening ˈle-və-niŋ How to pronounce leaven (audio)
ˈlev-niŋ

transitive verb

1
: to raise (something, such as bread) with a leaven
2
: to mingle or permeate with some modifying, alleviating, or vivifying element
especially : lighten
a sermon leavened with humor
Choose the Right Synonym for leaven

infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout.

infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

Examples of leaven in a Sentence

Noun a serious book that includes a few humorous stories as leaven Verb He needs to leaven his speeches with more humor. using yeast to leaven the dough
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Today, 3,000 years later, those who practice Passover attend a meal ritual known as Seder in homes, avoiding leaven, and retell that Exodus story. Irene Richardson, Country Living, 12 Mar. 2023
Verb
The fiery performance, leavened by some humor at the close, aimed to rebut one of the main lines of Republican attack on Biden — the effort to portray the 81-year-old president as doddering and weak. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 That’s a harsh reality, but it is leavened by hope. David A. Brenner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024 In this whisper-quiet drama, leavened by gallows humor, women gather at a clinic treating victims of chronic pain. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023 Eleventh Street Pizza will be a blend of classic New York style pizza with naturally leavened sourdough with Bisogni in charge. Carlos Frías, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The assumption is that, in time, the Evangelical will slowly leaven his institution with the gospel and transform it by his winsome and culturally enlightened version of Christianity. Andrew T. Walker, National Review, 31 Dec. 2023 Criticism of Biden is growing in Israel but is still leavened with gratitude. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2023 Cartwright’s idealism goes a long way toward leavening a dour tone that could — without the former’s commitment and loyalty — pull the viewer asunder with lectures on meaningless work and failed systems. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023 But his emotions were leavened with zealous cunning. Sam Kiley, CNN, 14 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leaven.' 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

Noun

Middle English levain, from Anglo-French levein, from Vulgar Latin *levamen, from Latin levare to raise — more at lever

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leaven was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near leaven

Cite this Entry

“Leaven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaven. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

leaven

1 of 2 noun
leav·​en ˈlev-ən How to pronounce leaven (audio)
1
a
: a substance (as yeast) used to produce a gaseous fermentation (as in dough)
b
: a material (as baking powder) used to produce a gas that makes dough or batter rise and become light
2
: something that changes slightly or lightens a mass or whole

leaven

2 of 2 verb
leavened; leavening ˈlev-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce leaven (audio)
1
: to raise (dough) with a leaven
2
: to mix or spread throughout with leaven

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