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.
The picnic is delivered to the hotel room with a souvenir picnic blanket and tote bag with food items like pesto, olives, caponata, Brie and ciabatta. Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 9 May 2025 Fridge-dump pesto Ten-minute pesto is a go-to in our house. Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025 It’s filled with basil flavors, similar to pesto, which helps calm the bitterness of the aloe vera in this recipe. Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2025 Enjoy this delicious and happy twist on traditional pesto. Elizabeth Karmel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 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 29 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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