dinner
DIH-nuh
Dinner (noun) means the main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening. Example: “After a long day, we sat down to a quiet dinner together.”
noun
1
The main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening.
"After a long day, we sat down to a quiet dinner together."
"We usually have dinner around seven o'clock."
"What are you cooking for dinner tonight?"
2
A formal meal held for many guests to mark a special occasion.
"The company hosts an annual dinner to honour its longest-serving staff."
"Guests dressed smartly for the wedding dinner held in the grand hall."
"The charity holds a black-tie dinner every spring."
How to use dinner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe main daily meal — usually eaten in the evening, though in some regions "dinner" means the midday meal instead.
UK vs US
In parts of the UK, especially working-class and northern usage, "dinner" can mean the midday meal, with "tea" or "supper" used for the evening meal.
Common pairings
have dinner
cook dinner
dinner party
Sunday dinner
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dinner.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- dinners
- Third person singular
- dinners
- Past tense
- dinnered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After a long day, we sat down to a quiet _____ together.
Etymology
From Old French disner, which originally meant "breakfast" before shifting to refer to the main meal of the day, ultimately from Vulgar Latin roots meaning "to break one's fast."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dinner
See all rhymes for dinner →Frequently asked questions
What does “dinner” mean?
The word “dinner” means the main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening. In plain terms, the main daily meal — usually eaten in the evening, though in some regions "dinner" means the midday meal instead.
How do you pronounce “dinner”?
“Dinner” is pronounced DIH-nuh (/ˈdɪnɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dinner” in a sentence?
Here is “dinner” used in a sentence: “We usually have dinner around seven o'clock.”
What part of speech is “dinner”?
“Dinner” is a noun.
Where does the word “dinner” come from?
The word “dinner” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French disner, which originally meant "breakfast" before shifting to refer to the main meal of the day, ultimately from Vulgar Latin roots meaning "to break one's fast.".
Is “dinner” a common word?
“Dinner” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “dinner” have?
“Dinner” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening.
What is the difference between dinner and supper?
Dinner is the main meal of the day and is usually the larger, more substantial one. Supper is traditionally a lighter meal eaten later in the evening. In many regions the two words are used interchangeably for the evening meal, but 'supper' generally suggests something smaller and more casual.
What is the difference between dinner and lunch?
Lunch is the meal eaten in the middle of the day. Dinner is the main meal, most often eaten in the evening. Confusingly, in some parts of Britain the midday meal is called 'dinner' and the evening one 'tea,' a usage rooted in older working patterns.
Why is the midday meal sometimes called dinner?
Historically, 'dinner' meant the main meal of the day, which was eaten around midday when it was the largest. As working life changed with industrialisation, the main meal shifted to the evening for many people, taking the word 'dinner' with it. Older regional usage still calls the midday meal dinner.
What time is dinner usually eaten?
In most English-speaking countries, dinner is eaten in the evening, commonly between about six and eight o'clock. The exact time varies by country, culture, and household — some eat earlier, others much later. What defines dinner is that it's the day's main meal, more than the precise hour.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include dinner:
