pesto

noun

pes·​to ˈpe-(ˌ)stō 

: 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

Cannellini beans are blended with sautéed kale, garlic, lemon, and a few other ingredients to make a creamy pesto-like sauce that the wide noodles take a swim in. —Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026

Tuck into the popular lamb lollipops with pistachio-mint pesto, the Alfredo Mafaldine or pan-roasted sea scallops. —Kathryn Streeter, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026

Popular items include the high protein Medi chicken bowl, Southwest salad with chicken, pesto pasta bowl and a new collab with California Pizza Kitchen featuring the restaurant chain’s signature BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026

Substitute almonds for pine nuts in homemade pesto sauce. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 31 Dec. 2025

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

Kids Definition

pesto

noun

pes·​to ˈpes-tō 

: a sauce made especially of fresh basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese