al dente

[al den-tey, -tee, ahl den-te] / æl ˈdɛn teɪ, -ti, ɑl ˈdɛn tɛ /

ADJECTIVE

of a firmer texture when cooked

Synonyms

WEAK

firm medium

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.

Their handmade al dente noodles are perfect — they overnight them from Italy.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2025

As for the corn, I like to throw the kernels directly into the boiling water, letting them soften as the pasta becomes pleasingly al dente.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2023

Durum, the hardest wheat, produces pasta with the prized "al dente" firm texture, unlike soft wheat.

From Reuters • Aug. 30, 2023

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