verb
Uncommon
brew
broo
Brew (verb) means to make a drink such as tea, coffee, or beer by steeping or fermenting ingredients in hot water. Example: “She brewed a fresh pot of coffee.”
verb
1
To make a drink such as tea, coffee, or beer by steeping or fermenting ingredients in hot water.
"She brewed a fresh pot of coffee."
"The monastery has brewed its own beer for centuries."
2
To be building up or developing, often used of trouble, storms, or arguments.
"You could tell a storm was brewing."
"Trouble had been brewing between the two departments for weeks."
noun
1
A drink made by brewing, or informally, a beer.
"Fancy a brew?"
"The pub serves several local brews on tap."
How to use brew
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make tea, coffee, or beer, or to describe tension/trouble building up.
UK vs US
In British informal speech, "a brew" often just means a cup of tea.
Common pairings
brew coffee
brew beer
trouble is brewing
a storm brewing
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Word forms
- Plural
- brews
- Third person singular
- brews
- Past tense
- brewed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ a fresh pot of coffee.
Etymology
From Old English brēowan, an ancient Germanic word for boiling or fermenting liquid, related distantly to the English word "burn".
Related words
Rhymes for brew
See all rhymes for brew →Frequently asked questions
What does “brew” mean?
The word “brew” means to make a drink such as tea, coffee, or beer by steeping or fermenting ingredients in hot water. In plain terms, to make tea, coffee, or beer, or to describe tension/trouble building up.
How do you pronounce “brew”?
“Brew” is pronounced broo (/bɹuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “brew” in a sentence?
Here is “brew” used in a sentence: “She brewed a fresh pot of coffee.”
What part of speech is “brew”?
Depending on how it is used, “brew” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “brew” come from?
The word “brew” comes from Old English. From Old English brēowan, an ancient Germanic word for boiling or fermenting liquid, related distantly to the English word "burn".
Is “brew” a common word?
“Brew” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “brew” have?
“Brew” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a drink such as tea, coffee, or beer by steeping or fermenting ingredients in hot water.
What is the difference between "brew" and "steep"?
"Brew" refers to making a drink such as tea, coffee, or beer by steeping or fermenting ingredients in hot water, while "steep" specifically means soaking ingredients, like tea leaves, in hot water to draw out flavor. Brewing can include steeping as one step in a broader process, especially for beer, which also requires fermentation.
What does it mean when trouble is "brewing"?
When trouble, a storm, or an argument is described as "brewing," it means it is building up or developing, much like a drink develops flavor during brewing. This figurative use draws on something forming gradually before it fully emerges.
What does "brew" mean as a noun?
As a noun, "brew" refers to a drink made by brewing, such as tea or coffee, or informally to a beer, as in "grab a cold brew."
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