How to Use starch in a Sentence

starch

1 of 2 verb
  • He starches the collars of his shirts.
  • As the sugar in the peas turns to starch, their sweetness fades.
    — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, 7 Aug. 2020
  • All told, the process requires around eleven steps to get from carbon dioxide to starch.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The fabric, fully starched, would soar into the air and find its resting place on his cheeks.
    — Melvin Backman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023
  • The sugars in sweet corn turn to starch rapidly and refrigeration helps to slow this process.
    — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 2 June 2021
  • Spit contains amylase, an enzyme that breaks starch into sugars.
    — Erin McKenney, Discover Magazine, 15 June 2020
  • The sugar in these sweeter hybrids does not convert to starch as rapidly as the standard hybrids.
    — Jim Gilbert, Star Tribune, 22 July 2021
  • With most forms of field maize—the kind of corn that is grown for polenta and corn flour—the kernels gradually transform from sugar to starch.
    — Bee Wilson, WSJ, 6 Aug. 2022
  • From the moment it is picked, the sugar in corn begins to convert to starch, decreasing its natural sweetness.
    — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2021
  • From the moment corn is picked, its sugar begins to convert to starch, decreasing its natural sweetness.
    — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, 9 July 2020
  • Try not to pull back the husk and expose the kernels though, as this only speeds up the corn drying out and converting its natural sugars to starch.
    — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2023
  • Most of the other kids wore starched Gunne Sax dresses and pressed khaki pants, but Agatha Krishna donned white from head to toe.
    — Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Pearl barley, which has that bran layer removed, cooks faster and will release starch into your cooking liquid, which can help make dishes thick and creamy, like in this barley risotto.
    — Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2021
  • So to a certain extent, Apple has brilliantly taken advantage of the situation and starched their hat white.
    — Recode Staff, Recode, 26 May 2018
  • With baking soda and tapioca starch to absorb excess moisture, this paraben- and aluminum-free deodorant helps underarms stay dry.
    — Katie Berohn, Good Housekeeping, 18 July 2022
  • Cousins of one-pot meals, sheet-pan suppers combine vegetables, protein and starch in a single piece of cookware, but offer a larger canvas to compose a range of shapes and colors.
    — Genevieve Ko New York Times, Star Tribune, 7 Apr. 2021
  • At times, the shirts’ high collars and starched feel felt ecclesiastical, while their voluminous sleeves almost angelic.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2019
  • The two are mashed together into an amalgamation of tartness and starch for a dish that’s the perfect accompaniment to fatty sausages, pork chops or other heavy cuts of meat.
    — Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, 18 Nov. 2020
  • Readers wrote in or telephoned with their domestic queries, which could be anything from how to remove a stain from a carpet to how to starch a shirt collar or how to butcher a chicken — anything to do with running a home.
    — Annabel Abbs, Good Housekeeping, 26 Oct. 2021
  • Over time, the convents became famous as keepers of wondrous secret recipes for exquisite pastries generally made from sugar and egg yolks (which were leftovers from the whites used to starch their habits).
    — Rick Steves, chicagotribune.com, 21 Oct. 2021
  • One of these is the presence of an underground structure that stores starch and allows the plant to spread through the soil when growing conditions are good, and to rejuvenate from environmental stress should its above-ground growth die.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
  • To to that point, congratulations on being the first actor to effectively flirt using a starching machine as a conversational topic.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Legend has it that Portuguese nuns and monks, having used egg whites to starch their religious clothing, used the leftover yolks to make pastries, including these sinfully delicious custard tarts.
    — CNN, 13 Apr. 2021
  • With hair combed neatly to one side, and dressed almost daily in suits that aren’t so much pressed as they are vigorously starched, Becerra is dutifully methodical when performing all the typical functions as California’s attorney general.
    — Marcos Bretón, sacbee, 11 Sep. 2017

starch

2 of 2 noun
  • The corn starch in the vinegar.
    — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The starch in potatoes does the same.
    — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
  • Swirl the rice gently with your hand to loosen the surface starch.
    — Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026
  • An open bag of corn starch was on a shelf below the prep table.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
  • This recipe calls for potato starch, not the same thing as potato flour.
    — Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 30 Sep. 2022
  • Serve over potatoes, rice, or your favorite starch.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026
  • Add two tablespoons of corn starch.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • Step 3 To a large wide bowl, add the thick sweet potato starch.
    — Clarissa Wei, Saveur, 30 Nov. 2023
  • Potatoes are rich in starch and will absorb some of the extra salt.
    — People Staff, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2022
  • So when is applying starch to your garments a wise choice?
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
  • The water will become cloudy as the starch is released.
    — Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026
  • Some recipes use just natural starch and egg as binding agents.
    — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appétit, 1 Dec. 2023
  • Remember that a little starch goes a long way.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
  • The enzymes help break down proteins and starches in set-in stains.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The enzymes help break down proteins and starches in set-in stains.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The plastic-gobbling sponges are made mostly from starch and gelatin.
    — Chris Baraniuk, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023
  • The real reason is the release of starch.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Lamb pairs well with a starch, but this side of potatoes takes comfort sides to the next level.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Simply pick a cut of steak, a salad dressing and a starch, and say yes to the onion rings.
    — Brett Anderson, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2023
  • High starch foods include potatoes, pasta, rice, corn and bread.
    — Julie Pollock, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
  • The resistant starch remains even when warmed again.
    — Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The starch helps the oil cling to the pasta and gives the dish a perfect — not greasy — texture.
    — America's Test Kitchen, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2023
  • All of the food noted above is somewhat high in resistant starch.
    — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 9 Aug. 2022
  • The recyclable and repairable brush heads are made of corn starch and castor oil.
    — Leslie Hsu Oh, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2023
  • On the flip side, not everyone hated the pea starch version of the fries.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Tapioca starch soaks up grease and keeps hair looking clean and matte.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2026
  • These carbohydrates are rich in starch, which can lead to a blood sugar spike.
    — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 8 Dec. 2025
  • Green bananas are less ripe and contain more resistant starch, which acts like fiber.
    — Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The marshmallow dip is made of dates, egg whites, vanilla and potato starch.
    — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Cutting out too many carbs can put a damper on your mood and make your body crave starch and sugar, which can lead to binges.
    — Women's Health, 25 May 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'starch.' 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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