How to Use basil in a Sentence

basil

noun
  • Turn off the heat and add the opal basil leaves to the pot.
    Abigail Abesamis Demarest, Forbes, 29 June 2021
  • Remove from the heat and stir in ⅔ of the basil leaves.
    SFChronicle.com, 14 Nov. 2019
  • Whisk in the sambal paste and add the torn basil leaves.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2021
  • Remove the tomato sauce from the heat and stir in the basil.
    Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2022
  • Pass basil, mint and cilantro leaves for guests to add.
    Tribune News Service, cleveland, 25 Jan. 2021
  • Snip off the top four to six inches of the basil stem, keeping the leaves on.
    Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024
  • Add the marinara sauce, stir in the basil and bring to a simmer.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Serve the shrimp warm with cooked rice, topped with the pan sauce and chopped basil or cilantro.
    Rebecca White, Dallas News, 27 Oct. 2020
  • The soup is topped with cilantro, bean sprouts, chopped green onions and Thai basil leaves.
    Dallas News, 27 Jan. 2023
  • The spark of joy on the plate is a basil-brightened chimichurri.
    Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022
  • The basil is pureed with olive oil and ice cubes (to preserve the color).
    Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2023
  • Place in a large canning jar or deep bowl with the basil.
    SFChronicle.com, 18 Sep. 2020
  • Add the lime juice and red onion mixture along with the cilantro, mint, basil and jalapeño.
    Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Place the four tomato halves and 4 basil leaves on the pizza.
    Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
  • Top with the fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil over the whole pizza.
    Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Nov. 2021
  • Divide among the bowls, top with more basil leaves and cheese, and serve hot.
    Washington Post, 1 May 2022
  • Add half the basil pieces and reserve the rest to add to the finished salad.
    Tribune News Service, cleveland, 8 Aug. 2022
  • Fill with crushed ice and garnish with a slapped basil leaf.
    The Courier-Journal, 24 Jan. 2023
  • Lemon Basil Room Spray Freshen up rooms with the clean scent of lemon and basil.
    Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2023
  • Next, add the basil leaves and a generous pinch of salt.
    Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2025
  • The bright basil green and the chalky matte finish set the direction for the rest of the room.
    Paige Porter Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Nov. 2022
  • Add the marinara sauce and basil and cook for 2 minutes.
    Mark Hyman, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2019
  • Chopped fresh mint and shredded fresh basil add a pop of green.
    Tribune News Service, cleveland, 22 June 2021
  • Then, add a slice of tomato, a slice of cheese, basil leaves, and the cooked patty.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Aug. 2025
  • When the flavor is to your liking, remove the pan from the heat, stir in the basil leaves and serve.
    Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2020
  • Finish the dish with a few fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of EVO oil.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
  • Add the basil to the boiling water and blanch for 30 seconds.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2020
  • Sprinkle with the extra oregano and basil, and serve right away.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2021
  • Skip the garnish or top with a sprig of fresh basil instead.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Once garlic is minced, add basil and 1/2 cup olive oil; process until finely minced, about 1 minute.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'basil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: