al dente

adjective

al den·​te äl-ˈden-(ˌ)tā 

al-

: cooked just enough to retain a somewhat firm texture

al dente pasta

al dente adverb

pasta cooked al dente

Examples of al dente in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone who has worked with fresh pasta knows the line between al dente and flabby noodles is infinitesimally fine. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Instead, boil it separately and add it right before serving for a perfectly al dente bite. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026

And the knock out dish is the tomato pasta which features a selection of local grown tomatoes prepared a number of ways, all cooked with al dente spaghetti. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026

Sometimes her Peruanos show up in roasted tomato and bean soup or slightly al dente in a cold salad. — Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian; literally, to the tooth

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for al dente

• accent
• advent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event