noun Uncommon

diner

DEYE-nuh

Diner (noun) means a small, casual restaurant, often open long hours and serving simple, affordable food, historically styled like a railroad dining car. Example: “They grabbed pancakes at a roadside diner on the way home.”

noun

A small, casual restaurant, often open long hours and serving simple, affordable food, historically styled like a railroad dining car.

"They grabbed pancakes at a roadside diner on the way home."

"The diner's neon sign glowed all night long."

A person who is eating a meal, especially at a restaurant.

"The waiter took the diners' orders one table at a time."

How to use diner

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a casual, inexpensive restaurant, or simply someone who is eating.

Common pairings

roadside diner greasy-spoon diner

Word forms

diners plural, diners plural

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Fill the gap

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They grabbed pancakes at a roadside _____ on the way home.

Etymology

From "dine" plus the agent suffix "-er".

Synonyms

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dining car buffet car dining compartment

Rhymes for diner

miner liner finer niner Tiner shiner joiner whiner Rainer Reiner Weiner mariner

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Frequently asked questions

What does “diner” mean?

The word “diner” means a small, casual restaurant, often open long hours and serving simple, affordable food, historically styled like a railroad dining car. In plain terms, either a casual, inexpensive restaurant, or simply someone who is eating.

How do you pronounce “diner”?

“Diner” is pronounced DEYE-nuh (/ˈdaɪnə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “diner” in a sentence?

Here is “diner” used in a sentence: “They grabbed pancakes at a roadside diner on the way home.”

What part of speech is “diner”?

“Diner” is a noun.

Is “diner” a common word?

“Diner” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “diner” have?

“Diner” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, casual restaurant, often open long hours and serving simple, affordable food, historically styled like a railroad dining car.