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The word yeast has existed in English for as long as the language has existed. Spellings have varied over time—in Middle English it was yest and in Old English gist or giest—but the word's meaning has remained basically the same for centuries. In its first documented English uses in the 1500s, the adjective yeasty described people or things with a yellowish or frothy appearance similar to the froth that forms on the top of fermented beverages (such as beers or ales). Since then, a number of extended figurative senses of yeasty have surfaced, all of which play in some way or another on the excitable, chemical nature of fermentation, such as by connoting unsettled activity or significant change.
Synonyms
Examples of yeasty in a Sentence
Topher Gauk-Roger, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2023
This could perhaps lead to a more yeasty, rather than fizzy kombucha.
—Alice Chi Phung, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2015
Scattering is why gummy bears glow under bright light, why milk is opaque and why yeasty beer is hazy.
—Jason P. Dinh, Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2022
Aficionados can distinguish between a Prosecco and, say, yeasty expensive Champagnes.
—Marc Bona, cleveland, 19 Dec. 2022
It was bottled at barrel proof of 51.1 percent ABV and has notes of apricot, citrus, honey, some yeasty dough and oak on the palate.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2022
As Klaus and Rudi noted, yeasty flavors become more elegant and cleaner after 5 to 30 minutes.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 31 July 2022
Anything that goes through a secondary fermentation in the bottle, like Champagne or Cava, will have bready, yeasty complexity on the finish.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2022
Then there’s beer spilled by the person behind you, which adds unexpected yeasty barley notes and helps the dry bun go down easy.
—Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 19 Feb. 2022
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yeasty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Cite this Entry
“Yeasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yeasty. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.
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