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noun Common

dining

DEYE-nihng

Dining (noun) means the act of eating a meal, especially as a social occasion. Example: “The hotel offers fine dining overlooking the harbour.”

noun
1
The act of eating a meal, especially as a social occasion.
"The hotel offers fine dining overlooking the harbour."
"They spent the evening dining with old friends."
2
Hosting or entertaining someone with a meal.
"The company was dining important clients at the new restaurant."

How to Use Dining

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEating a meal, usually a more formal or social one rather than a quick bite.

Common pairings
fine dining dining room dining out casual dining

Word Forms

dinings plural

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The hotel offers fine _____ overlooking the harbour.

Related Words

Rhymes for dining

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “dining” mean?

The word “dining” means the act of eating a meal, especially as a social occasion. In plain terms, eating a meal, usually a more formal or social one rather than a quick bite.

How do you pronounce “dining”?

“Dining” is pronounced DEYE-nihng (/ˈdaɪnɪŋ(ɡ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “dining” in a sentence?

Here is “dining” used in a sentence: “The hotel offers fine dining overlooking the harbour.”

What part of speech is “dining”?

“Dining” is a noun.

Is “dining” a common word?

“Dining” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “dining” have?

“Dining” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of eating a meal, especially as a social occasion.

What is the difference between dining and eating?

"Eating" is the plain word for consuming food, while "dining" suggests eating a meal, especially as a social occasion. Dining carries a slightly more formal or ceremonial tone than simply eating.

What is the difference between dining and dinning?

"Dining" (one n) relates to eating a meal, while "dinning" (two n's) comes from the verb "din" and means making a loud, continuous noise. The double-n spelling is a common mistake when writing about meals.

What is the difference between a dining room and a dining hall?

A dining room is a room in a home or restaurant set aside for eating meals. A dining hall is a large shared space, such as in a school or university, where many people eat together.

What is the difference between dine and dining?

"Dine" is the base verb meaning to eat a meal, as in "we dine at eight." "Dining" is its -ing form, used as a noun for the act of eating a meal or in phrases like "dining table" and "fine dining."

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