pasta

noun

pas·​ta ˈpä-stə How to pronounce pasta (audio)
also
ˈpa- How to pronounce pasta (audio)
1
: paste in processed form (such as macaroni) or in the form of fresh dough (such as ravioli)
2
: a dish of cooked pasta

Examples of pasta in a Sentence

They ordered pasta with meat sauce. Breads and pastas are high in carbohydrates.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Add pasta; cook according to package directions for al dente. Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025 The company initiated the recall after genetic testing found a strain of listeria bacteria in prepared chicken fettuccine and meatball pasta products that matched a strain of bacteria that has been implicated in an ongoing listeria outbreak since August 2024. Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025 The inspector dropped Stop Sales on all that pasta. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025 Across town, a waiter in a crisp white jacket at Osteria Serafina is tossing bigoli pasta in a giant pecorino wheel, old style, eliciting the same reaction. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pasta

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Late Latin

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pasta was in 1827

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pasta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pasta. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pasta

noun
pas·​ta ˈpäs-tə How to pronounce pasta (audio)
1
: a dough of flour, eggs, and water made in different shapes and dried (as spaghetti or macaroni) or used fresh (as ravioli)
2
: a dish of cooked pasta

More from Merriam-Webster on pasta

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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