noun
Common
dining
DEYE-nihng
Dining (noun) means the act of eating a meal, especially as a social occasion. Example: “We enjoyed a quiet evening of dining by candlelight.”
noun
1
The act of eating a meal, especially as a social occasion.
"We enjoyed a quiet evening of dining by candlelight."
"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 mayor spent the evening dining the visiting delegation at her home."
"He was wining and dining the investors to win their support."
"The company was dining important clients at the new restaurant."
How to use dining
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- dinings
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We enjoyed a quiet evening of _____ by candlelight.
Related words
Rhymes for dining
See all rhymes for dining →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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