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
Using tongs, keep tossing until everything is well combined and the pasta is al dente, 1 to 2 minutes, adding more pasta water as needed to make things saucy.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Add the linguine and cook to just before al dente according to the package directions.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Add pasta; cook according to package directions for al dente.
—Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions, until al dente.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for al dente
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The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Add the linguine and cook to just before al dente according to the package directions.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Add pasta; cook according to package directions for al dente.
—Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions, until al dente.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 2025.
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