Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

al dente

[al den-tey, -tee, ahl den-te] / æl ˈdɛn teɪ, -ti, ɑl ˈdɛn tɛ /
ADJECTIVE
of a firmer texture when cooked
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Tossed with olive oil, tomatoes, jalapeño, feta and Parmesan cheese, the expertly al dente Rustichella rigatoni is not your everyday mac ‘n’ cheese dinner.

From Los Angeles Times May 23, 2026

Add the asparagus and let everything turn glossy for a few minutes, then toss with sweet snap peas, chives and al dente pasta.

From The Wall Street Journal May 19, 2026

Meanwhile, bring pasta water to a boil, and cook the orecchiette until it’s al dente.

From Seattle Times Feb. 9, 2024

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente.

From Washington Times Aug. 4, 2023

They resembled noodles that had been cooked al dente.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston



Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training