ferment

verb

fer·ment | \ (ˌ)fər-ˈment

fermented; fermenting; ferments

Definition of ferment

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to undergo fermentation The wine ferments in oak barrels.

2 : to be in a state of agitation or intense activity everything ferments in him—his thoughts, sensations, and memories; nothing stays quiet —Janet Flanner

transitive verb

1 : to cause to undergo fermentation Yeast ferments the sugar in the juice.

2 : to work up (as into a state of agitation) : foment

ferment

noun

fer·ment | \ ˈfər-ˌment also (ˌ)fər-ˈment

Definition of ferment (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a living organism (such as a yeast) that causes fermentation by virtue of its enzymes

b : enzyme

2a : a state of unrest : agitation

b : a process of active often disorderly development the great period of creative ferment in literature —William Barrett

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Examples of ferment in a Sentence

Verb

The wine ferments in oak barrels. Yeast ferments the sugar in the juice.

Noun

The city was in a state of ferment after the election. the city was in ferment as its residents nervously awaited the airborne invasion that was sure to come

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Nan ru is tofu that is brined and fermented with rice that has been inoculated with a deep red strain of mold. — Julia Moskin, New York Times, "Mastering Chinese-Style Ribs at Home," 9 July 2018 The Cider Farm also produces Haralson Dry, named for an apple developed in Minnesota, and Cyser, a tart apple juice fermented with honey from hives on the farm. — Kathy Flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In Wisconsin, when life hands you apples, you make elegant ciders. And brandy," 27 June 2018 Hard cider, which at its core is simply fermented fruit juice, intrigued them more. — Michael Klein, Philly.com, "Why cider? The Dresslers want to create a family business," 17 May 2018 The word broadly applies to any strong spirit and traditionally means a lush brandy made by fermenting and distilling pounds and pounds of fresh fruit or even vegetables. — Alia Akkam, WSJ, "Schnaps Brings the Taste of Spring— Sipped Straight or In Cocktails," 17 Apr. 2018 During pregnancy, mothers should aim to eat at least one new, unusually flavored or bitter food a few times a week, such as cruciferous vegetables, spicy cuisine or fermented foods like kimchi. — Ashleigh Spitza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Picky, picky: Strategies to get your kids (or yourself) to try new foods," 11 June 2018 Other classes offered: beer brewing, winemaking, black and white film developing, fermenting and pickling food and composting. — Hannah Steinkopf-frank, RedEye Chicago, "Want to try something new? From climbing to comedy, check out these 10 classes," 27 Mar. 2018 Winemakers who steer clear of commercial yeast, synthetic pesticides, or large amounts of added sulfur often offer easy-drinking wines from grapes fermented to emphasize bright, fruity flavors. — Maggie Hoffman, Sunset, "8 Chilled Red Wines Perfect for Summer Sipping," 22 Jan. 2018 After cold-fermenting for four days, Piazza’s dough is practically poured into sheet pans, topped and baked in an electric oven. — Dominic Armato, azcentral, "Roman Pizza in Phoenix? Piazza Romana, a new kind of pizzeria, opening in Avondale," 4 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Amid this ferment, a leading Iraqi cleric, Abdel Majid al-Khoei, was killed in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, shocking millions of followers. — Margaret Coker, New York Times, "Once Hated by U.S. and Tied to Iran, Is Sadr Now ‘Face of Reform’ in Iraq?," 20 May 2018 The 3-year-old startup ferments yeast cells that are genetically programmed to synthesize animal collagen, the primary protein in skin, cartilage and tendons. — Jonathan Kauffman, San Francisco Chronicle, "The next generation of clothing is coming. It’s made by microbes.," 19 Apr. 2018 The primary foes have had seven weeks to ferment since the state Democratic convention, where the Greenwich telecommunications magnate Lamont overwhelmingly clinched the party’s endorsement. — Neil Vigdor, courant.com, "Ned Lamont And Joe Ganim On A Collision Course Toward First Head-To-Head Debate," 11 July 2018 Psychic TV has been led by the wildly prolific Genesis P-Orridge since the group was formed in the post-punk ferment of 1981. — Jon Pareles, New York Times, "At Moogfest, Electronics Stimulate Ears and Emotions," 21 May 2018 If mixture isn’t ready, cover and let ferment another day. — San Antonio Express-News, "Recipe: Tepache pineapple drink," 3 July 2018 How ironic that out of the 21 presidential wannabes in that last election cycle, only the billionaire New Yorker detected and tapped into that ferment. — Andrew Malcolm, SFChronicle.com, "Is Donald Trump chief executive or executive producer?," 28 June 2018 Farm 779 is joining the growing lineup of vendors at the market with ferments, kombucha and kvass. — Steve Edwards, Anchorage Daily News, "Fresh seafood, new vendors are cropping up at Anchorage markets," 13 June 2018 Typically, ideas for new beers ferment at the Open Gate Brewery, a pilot system that opens to the public on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. — Tara Nurin, Philly.com, "In Dublin, a story of whiskey is more than just one night at the pub," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ferment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.