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

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 Field Dream is made with corn pudding, a Thai basil pesto, and shrimp dust. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 Lunch offers a variety of croissant sandwiches with choices like a BLT, club, tuna salad, chicken pesto and caprese. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026 Slayton points to pesto and frittatas as her favorite unconventional ways to use arugula, while Klinger loves it on pizza with Parmesan cheese. — Embry Roberts, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026 Once frozen, pop pesto cubes out of the tray; freeze in an airtight container up to 3 months. — Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2026 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

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

pestle

pesto

pestology

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pesto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pesto. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pesto

noun

pes·to ˈpes-tō

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

pesto

noun

Examples of pesto in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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