How to Use basil in a Sentence

basil

noun
  • Stir in basil and sesame seeds.
    — Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
  • How long can a basil plant live?
    — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026
  • Stir in olive oil, basil, and oregano.
    — Jed Portman, Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
  • Learn how to get the most from your basil plant.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
  • Think crisp crust, bright sauce, fresh cheese and basil.
    — Gail Ciampa, The Providence Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Think crisp crust, bright sauce, fresh cheese and basil.
    — Gail Ciampa, The Providence Journal, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Remove from heat and fold in basil.
    — Francesca Giuliani Hoffman, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Sprinkle the fresh basil on top.
    — Linda Gassenheimer, Boston Herald, 24 June 2026
  • Add the cheese and basil and gently toss.
    — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Garnish with more dill and basil.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
  • Garnish with peach slices and basil sprigs.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
  • There’s no single leaf of basil on a slice.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026
  • Stir in the tomatoes, oregano, and basil.
    — Ashia Aubourg, Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Remove from oven, top with basil and serve.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • The fresh basil takes this dish to the next level.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Season to taste and serve with more fresh basil on top.
    — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Stir in basil leaves, then bring the sauce to a simmer.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
  • Both times used ½ basil, ½ flat leaf parsley.
    — Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Here’s the best way to harvest and store fresh basil.
    — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026
  • The beef or chicken kaphrao (spicy basil) is the same.
    — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Store fresh basil like you would put fresh flowers in a vase.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
  • Get the most out of your basil plants with these simple tips.
    — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026
  • Top with more crushed ice and garnish with basil leaves and jalapeño slices.
    — Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
  • Olive oils that have been infused with Thai basil.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
  • Pull the chicken skin back over the cheese and basil, and press it down.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2025
  • Basil Is there anything that basil can’t do?
    — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
  • Lemon basil is one of Ziegler's favorites to grow.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Divide among the bowls, top with more basil leaves and cheese, and serve hot.
    — Washington Post, 1 May 2022
  • For larger amounts, trim off full stems of basil from the top of the plant down.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
  • If your basil plant is lush, put the bounty to use and try some new basil recipes.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026

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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