brew

American  

[broo] / bru /

verb (used with object)

1. to make (beer, ale, etc.) by steeping, boiling, and fermenting malt and hops.

2. to make or prepare (a beverage, as tea) by mixing, steeping, soaking, or boiling a solid in water.

3. to concoct, mix, or cook (a beverage or food, especially one containing unmeasured or unusual ingredients).

   She brewed a pot of soup from the leftovers.

4. to contrive, plan, or bring about.

   to brew mischief.

   Synonyms:

   cook up, hatch, devise, plot, scheme, concoct

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verb (used without object)

1. to make a fermented alcoholic malt beverage, as beer or ale.

2. to boil, steep, soak, or cook.

   Wait until the tea brews.

noun

1. a quantity brewed in a single process.

2. a particular brewing or variety of malt liquor.

3. a hot beverage made by cooking a solid in water, especially tea or coffee.

4. any concoction, especially a liquid produced by a mixture of unusual ingredients.

   a witches' brew.

5. Informal.

   1. beer or ale.

   2. an individual serving of beer or ale.

      Let's have a few brews after the game.

idioms

1. be brewing, to be forming or gathering; be in preparation.

   Trouble was brewing.

brew ¹ British  

/ bruː /

verb

1. to make (beer, ale, etc) from malt and other ingredients by steeping, boiling, and fermentation

2. to prepare (a drink, such as tea) by boiling or infusing

3. (tr) to devise or plan

   to brew a plot

4. (intr) to be in the process of being brewed

   the tea was brewing in the pot

5. (intr) to be impending or forming

   there's a storm brewing

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noun

1. a beverage produced by brewing, esp tea or beer

   a strong brew

2. an instance or time of brewing

   last year's brew

3. a mixture

   an eclectic brew of mysticism and political discontent

brew ² British  

/ bruː /

noun

1. dialect a hill

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Other Word Forms

• brewer noun
• misbrew verb (used with object)
• rebrew verb
• unbrewed adjective
• underbrew verb (used with object)
• well-brewed adjective

Etymology

Origin of brew

before 900; Middle English brewen, Old English brēowan; akin to Dutch brouwen, German brauen, Old Norse brugga

Example Sentences

Using copper to transmit the sound vibrations through the kelp soup, scientists played Huber’s recordings, which triggered something that caused the brew to act like the original.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Strangers gather in a riverside fire shelter and brew coffee the old way.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

Yet, as a new play begins to brew in his mind, Jack resolves to mend their relationship.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

"I believe you must not let arguments brew," said Joy, who also believes that you should always end the day with a kiss.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Even though John Mark rarely drinks the stuff, he takes the time to brew coffee for Mom every morning.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

Related Words

• beverage
• blend
• broth
• distillation
• drink
• liquor
• melange
• mishmash
• mixture
• mélange