How to Use umami in a Sentence

umami

1 of 2 noun
  • Tomato paste gives it depth and a touch of umami.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Black olives add a fine umami boost to the velvety beans.
    — Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • This again points to the fact that umami-rich foods are the best tasting in the air.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
  • This again points to the fact that umami-rich foods are the best tasting in the air.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
  • And the earthy and umami-packed turmeric is my favorite of all.
    — Amber Gibson, Bon Appétit, 26 Feb. 2021
  • The shiso adds a bright pop of citrusy mint and the konbu a boost of umami.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2023
  • Some of the best bites come first, where the scalloped edges offer crunch and a punch of umami.
    — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 29 Mar. 2023
  • Nor does the kitchen try to lard extra umami into every dish.
    — Pete Wells, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2018
  • Miso is a great way to add flavor and umami to a vegetable, as is roasting.
    — Milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2018
  • Mirin produced this way has a complex and rich flavor with loads of umami.
    — Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 25 Oct. 2019
  • The noodles are always fresh and the dashi is always dense with umami.
    — Bon Appetit, 19 Mar. 2018
  • And those oysters lend tons of umami and rich savoriness to the sauce.
    — Alex Delany, Bon Appetit, 4 June 2018
  • The fries come with a kim-chi ketchup sauce that adds another layer of umami.
    — Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 20 Sep. 2017
  • Joo said the vegetables that get mixed in with the broth pack sundubu with umami.
    — Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 3 Jan. 2017
  • This kitchen is going for a little fun, with spiked tastes and plenty of umami.
    — Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2018
  • The mushroom toast is a delightful umami punch to the face.
    — Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026
  • These burgers are all about umami—the savory, meaty taste found in foods like mushrooms and soy.
    — Atlanta Life, ajc, 30 May 2017
  • The fresh herbs kept the dish light and bright, and the sesame soy vinaigrette gave an element of umami.
    — Birmingham Magazine, AL.com, 18 Aug. 2017
  • Nutty and umami-packed (thanks to that miso) this dressing might just become one of your new faves.
    — Audrey Bruno, SELF, 15 Dec. 2017
  • And then, out came the voice—that voice, the old umami and gravel, with all its fragile grandeur intact.
    — Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 7 Dec. 2021
  • The meat falls off the bone at first tug, and the sauce is rich and full of umami with a hint of star anise and earthy white pepper.
    — Leena Trivedi-Grenier, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Dec. 2017
  • Shu Shop, where umami-rich ramen awaits, stays open for those looking for late-night bites.
    — Bob Carlton, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
  • As a result of this breakdown, amino acids are released that can enhance the umami of a dish.
    — Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023
  • The rich pan sauce has loads of umami too from the beef stock base, a sneaky way to boost flavor with little effort.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The botanticals emerged with a light, briny quality and a bit of umami.
    — Josh Noel, chicagotribune.com, 24 Sep. 2019
  • Nutty, salty Parmesan cheese lends a boost of umami to the finished soup.
    — Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Very refreshing, with a pickly kind of flavor and some umami and the spice will hit you on the back.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Aug. 2019
  • Scallions and cilantro, along with savories such as bean paste and tofu sauce imbue umami.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
  • The umami of the mushroom melds with smoky spice from the chiles and plays beautifully against the corn.
    — Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2022
  • Fleischman says those two ingredients ramp up the umami of this recipe.
    — Chris Ross, sandiegouniontribune.com, 9 July 2018

umami

2 of 2 adjective
  • Tamari adds a rich, umami nuance to the gravy.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Chefs from all corners of the globe use it for an umami kick.
    — Jess Eng, Washington Post, 20 July 2022
  • Soy sauce adds salty, umami flavors to the sauce.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 24 Dec. 2025
  • The tajin on both dishes was a nice kick and fit with the umami flavors.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Soy sauce adds saltiness and umami goodness to the sauce.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Lighter beer won't provide the same umami flavor.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
  • There is a umami flavor to its large, plush leaves that will remind you of cooked cabbage.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Ever the chef, de Leon will play by adding miso or dashi or tomatoes for more umami.
    — Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 3 Oct. 2022
  • So, the umami flavors are right and center with the savory cheese and the right dose of pork fat.
    — Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
  • The hoisin sauce adds glossy sweetness and umami depth, while fresh ginger brightens things up.
    — Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The drink’s amino acids account for an umami flavor, and some sake types even have fruity flavors.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2022
  • Cooked with onion, garlic and jalapeño balancing sweet, umami, spicy and salty.
    — Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2021
  • There’s no need for an initial sear on the meat either; that sauce packs more than enough umami flavor.
    — Inés Anguiano, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2024
  • Tasters mentioned nori, salty-sweet olives, and other umami-centric notes.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026
  • Tomatoes pack umami flavor, while feta adds tang and a little bit of salt.
    — Women's Health, 28 Aug. 2023
  • Grated tomato adds freshness to the rice as well before it’s cooked in the umami broth.
    — Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2023
  • Black garlic has a rich, umami flavor that also contains sour, sweet, and tangy notes.
    — Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2023
  • It’s topped off with crispy provolone, which adds a nice crunchy contrast and extra umami layer.
    — Omar Mamoon, SFChronicle.com, 19 Aug. 2020
  • For lighter stock, that means just salt, a touch of sugar, and some mushroom powder for umami flavor.
    — Naomi Tomky, Saveur, 3 Jan. 2023
  • Sprinkle it with nutritional yeast for a cheese-like umami boost.
    — Cathryne Keller, SELF, 22 Dec. 2023
  • Below are some of our favorite recipes from our archives that get spicy, umami twist from one of our favorite pantry items.
    — Anna Rodriguez, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024
  • Eating umami foods may lead to changes in appetite and to reduced overall salt and fat intake.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Level up your ice cream by tossing in some chili crisp to give it a sweet, salty, and umami flavor, Gao says.
    — Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 25 July 2023
  • Miso The fermentation in miso is what gives it its umami-rich power.
    — Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The earthy mushrooms pair beautifully with the umami flavor in the green tea.
    — Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
  • Finishing it off, the bacon is crispy and adds a nice smokiness to the dish while the cheese rounds out the umami notes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Furikake is crunchy, salty and nutty and adds a wonderful umami flavor.
    — Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 18 Aug. 2023
  • Catalano calls for 3 to 4 tablespoons of honey to help round out tangy, salty, and umami sauce.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
  • But evidence suggests that the umami taste in chicken soup may help spur a bigger appetite.
    — Colby Teeman, Assistant Professor Of Dietetics and Nutrition, University Of Dayton, Fortune Well, 21 Oct. 2023
  • This quiche is a prime example of the divine flavor that results from umami building.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'umami.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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