ferment

verb

fer·​ment (ˌ)fər-ˈment 

fermented; fermenting; ferments

intransitive verb

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

fermentable

(ˌ)fər-ˈmen-tə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of ferment

• provoke
• raise
• promote

Examples of ferment in a Sentence

The wine ferments in oak barrels.

Yeast ferments the sugar in the juice.

Recent Examples on the Web

Best traps for fruit flies Fruit flies are a common pest often attracted to garbage cans, fermented foods and fruit. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 June 2026

Note that pickles made with a salt brine, like Martha's Sour Pickles, are fermented foods, while those made quickly with vinegar are not. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026

Vignerons have grown grapes and fermented wine in the High Plains since the mid-1970s, but the region didn't officially get its AVA status until 1993. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026

Whatever is plucked from the vegetable patch that day appears on the menu, accompanied by dangerously tasty sourdough, fermented using the appley waste from the cider production. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for ferment

• accent
• advent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event

Kids Definition

ferment

1 of 2 verb

fer·​ment (ˌ)fər-ˈment 

1

: to undergo or cause to undergo fermentation

2

: to be or cause to be in a state of unrest or excitement

fermentable

-ˈment-ə-bəl 

adjective

fermenter noun

ferment

2 of 2 noun

fer·​ment ˈfər-ˌment 

1

: an agent (as a yeast) that is capable of causing fermentation

2

: a state of unrest or excitement

Medical Definition

ferment

1 of 2 intransitive verb

fer·​ment (ˌ)fər-ˈment 

: to undergo fermentation

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo fermentation

fermentable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

ferment

2 of 2 noun

fer·​ment

ˈfər-ˌment also (ˌ)fər-ˈ

1

a

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

b

: enzyme

2

: fermentation