1
a
: a substance (such as yeast) used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid
especially
: sourdough
b
: a material (such as baking powder) used to produce a gas that lightens dough or batter
2
: something that modifies or lightens
leavened; leavening
ˈle-və-niŋ 
ˈlev-niŋ
1
: to raise (something, such as bread) with a leaven
2
: to mingle or permeate with some modifying, alleviating, or vivifying element
Examples of leaven in a Sentence
Noun
a serious book that includes a few humorous stories as leaven
Verb
He needs to leaven his speeches with more humor.
using yeast to leaven the dough
Recent Examples on the Web
Irene Richardson, Country Living, 12 Mar. 2023
Asher Price, Axios, 6 Aug. 2024
The companionable dynamics in his scenes with Melling and Kene are a treat and help to leaven the languor that sets in the back-half of the run-time.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leaven 
Noun
Today, 3,000 years later, those who practice Passover attend a meal ritual known as Seder in homes, avoiding leaven, and retell that Exodus story.
—Irene Richardson, Country Living, 12 Mar. 2023
Verb
What might have been a 13-hour door-to-door trip was instead, leavened by a pair of delays, 22 hours.
—Asher Price, Axios, 6 Aug. 2024
The companionable dynamics in his scenes with Melling and Kene are a treat and help to leaven the languor that sets in the back-half of the run-time.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leaven
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leaven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near leaven
Cite this Entry
“Leaven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaven. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
leaven
1 of 2 noun
leav·en
ˈlev-ən
1
a
: a substance (as yeast) used to produce a gaseous fermentation (as in dough)
b
: a material (as baking powder) used to produce a gas that makes dough or batter rise and become light
2
: something that changes slightly or lightens a mass or whole
leaven
2 of 2 verb
leavened; leavening
ˈlev-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to raise (dough) with a leaven
2
: to mix or spread throughout with leaven
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