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
As my meatballs bubbled away in their marinara and my spaghetti approached al dente, my kitchen was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of butter and garlic.
—
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Increase heat and simmer vigorously until pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.
—Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
Cook just until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Bake flesh-side up for 30–40 minutes or until the flesh is tender enough to scrape with a fork, producing al dente (or softer) spaghetti-like strands.
—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for al dente
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Increase heat and simmer vigorously until pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.
—Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
Cook just until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Bake flesh-side up for 30–40 minutes or until the flesh is tender enough to scrape with a fork, producing al dente (or softer) spaghetti-like strands.
—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for al dente
Cite this Entry
“Al dente.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/al%20dente. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share