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 molten cheese brings all the ingredients together, but a high ratio of corn to dumpling and the bright basil in the pesto keep this dish light enough for summer. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025 Fresh salads and pesto garlic cheesy bread are on the menu, as are brownies and s’mores pies for dessert. Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025 Its Tie-Dye pizza, made with tomato, vodka and pesto sauces, nods to both Italian American heritage and modern experimentation. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 Or opt for two spreads—regular mayonnaise on one slice of bread and mashed avocado, pesto, or hummus on the other. Sarah Garone, Health, 17 Oct. 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 Oct. 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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