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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 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
  • Chopped fresh mint and shredded fresh basil add a pop of green.
    Tribune News Service, cleveland, 22 June 2021
  • Sprinkle with the extra oregano and basil, and serve right away.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2021
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice and basil.
    Beth Dooley Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 23 June 2021
  • Beet foam and basil jelly were the new hollandaise and velouté.
    New York Times, 27 Nov. 2021
  • Taste for seasoning, add the basil leaves, and remove from the heat.
    Jennifer McClellan, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2022
  • Place purple basil plants in full sun, and make sure the soil is moist but well-drained.
    Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024
  • Off heat, stir in the scallions or basil and orange juice.
    BostonGlobe.com, 20 Apr. 2021
  • Add half the basil leaves and sprinkle with salt and a little more olive oil.
    Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2022
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the basil to the ice bath.
    Washington Post, 15 July 2021
  • The basil was fresh and the julienned zucchini gives a nice crunch.
    cleveland, 23 Nov. 2021
  • The Ballin’ Out, loaded with meatballs and fresh basil.
    Dana McMahan, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2022
  • Lemon basil rice is my favorite way to use fresh leaves.
    Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2024
  • Add basil, pine nuts and ½ cup of the cheese; process until basil is minced, 15 to 30 seconds.
    Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Many of the dishes here are spicy and common flavorful ingredients include lemongrass, coconut milk, basil, and—of course—chili peppers.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 Mar. 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.

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