leaven

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "leaven" is correct and can be used in written English.
"Leaven" is a noun and it refers to a substance, such as yeast, that is added to dough to make it rise. Example: The baker carefully added the leaven to the dough, creating a delicious smell in the bakery. "Leaven" can also be used as a verb, meaning to make something lighter or less serious. Example: The introduction of humor and witty comments helps to leaven the serious tone of the political debate.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They celebrated Passover by taking exceptional pains to observe the rule that "no leaven shall be found in your houses" and "no leavened bread shall be found with you".

The New Yorker

The royal courts of Java used to leaven their Islamic beliefs with hefty doses of Hindu astrology and local folk religion.

The Economist

Mr Brown, whose self-styled prudence led him to deplore Tory tax-cut pledges for a decade, boasts about taking Britain deeper into the red to leaven a recession.

The Economist

Rouba, mas faz (he steals but he acts), say Brazilians indulgently of politicians who leaven their greed with efficiency.

The Economist

They leaven the stockmarket's menu of infrastructure companies and heavy industry with retailers, technology firms and airlines.

The Economist

At 450 pages the book is too long, but just as spy-thriller writers leaven their narratives with tradecraft tips, Mr Deaver weaves in a steady flow of fascinating instructions on reading body language and eliciting information.

The Economist

In the 1940s Australia was about 98% Anglo-Celtic; by the 1980s a few other Europeans, mostly Italians and Greeks, and latterly some Vietnamese, had started to leaven the mix.

The Economist

Few insiderish nuggets leaven the mix though Mrs Clinton does explain why the secret service dislikes VIPs visiting Buddhist temples (they feel unready for emergencies without their shoes).Coming soon to a book group near youTo solve the mystery of what "Hard Choices" is for, think back to those Democratic surrogates being schooled on Benghazi talking-points.

The Economist

They have become middle class.The departure of such strivers has removed the leaven from the housing estates that they quit.

The Economist

His Tory rival, the improbably coiffed Boris Johnson, once cultivated an image as an endearingly gaffe-prone bicycling buffoon, which he is now trying to leaven with transport policy.

The Economist

Each in its own way illustrates the fecundity, if not the peace, of the archetypal English landscape.For all the effort made to leaven things with images and sound, this is a show for readers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leaven" in a metaphorical sense, ensure the context clearly indicates the intended meaning of tempering or influencing something, rather than the literal baking sense.

Common error

Avoid using "leaven" when you simply mean 'add' or 'include' unless you specifically want to convey the idea of a transformative or pervasive influence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "leaven" is as both a verb (to cause to rise or modify) and a noun (a substance that causes dough to rise). Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Ludwig AI has identified its usage as correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

31%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Reference

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "leaven" can function as both a verb and a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. It has a literal meaning relating to baking—a substance causing dough to rise—and a figurative sense relating to modifying or influencing something. Ludwig examples come from various domains, being most frequent in News & Media and Encyclopedias. When using "leaven", consider the context: it is typically used either to talk about breadmaking or tempering an event with an element of humor or change. Use the term, and do not use alternatives like "temper", "imbue", "modify", or "influence" when you really mean ""leaven"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise

A more general term for causing dough to rise, though it lacks the specific connotation of using a leavening agent.

imbue

Focuses on permeating or infusing something with a quality or substance, similar to how leaven permeates dough.

temper

Implies moderating or softening the impact of something, akin to how leaven can affect the texture of bread or influence decision.

modify

A broad term for changing something, capturing the sense of "leaven" as a modifier or influencer.

influence

Highlights the power to affect something, mirroring how leaven can influence dough or decisions.

affect

Similar to influence, this term indicates the action of having an impact on something.

permeate

Describes the process of spreading or diffusing throughout something, akin to how leaven spreads through dough.

infuse

Similar to imbue, emphasizing the introduction of a quality or substance.

aerate

Describes the act of incorporating air, specifically in the context of bread making.

prove

Refers to the process of allowing dough to rise, indicating the action of leavening.

FAQs

How can I use "leaven" in a sentence?

You can use "leaven" as a verb, meaning to add a substance to dough to make it rise, or metaphorically, to lighten or modify something. For example: "The baker added the "leaven" to the dough." or "He tried to "leaven" the serious discussion with humor."

What does "leaven" mean in the context of Passover?

In the context of Passover, "leaven" refers to any agent used to make dough rise, and its consumption is prohibited during the holiday. This symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt.

What can I say instead of "leaven" in a metaphorical sense?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "temper", "imbue", "modify", or "influence".

Is "leaven" only used in relation to baking?

No, while "leaven" has a literal meaning related to baking, it is also used metaphorically to describe something that modifies or enlivens something else, such as humor "leavening" a serious discussion.