diner

[ dahy-ner ]

noun

1. a person who dines.
2. a railroad dining car.
3. a restaurant built like such a car.
4. a small, informal, and usually inexpensive restaurant.

diner

/ ˈdaɪnə /

noun

1. a person eating a meal, esp in a restaurant
2. a small restaurant, often at the roadside
3. a fashionable bar, or a section of one, where food is served

Word History and Origins

Origin of diner¹

First recorded in 1800–10; dine + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Regarding clientele, diners in the UK seem to be more open minded in trying different flavors or cuisines, whereas New Yorkers know exactly what they want and they are going to find it.

From Salon

“From silly diner interviews on Weekend Fox and Friends to Secretary of Defense?” former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson posted on social media, saying she was “stunned” by the pick.

From Salon

What do you hope your diners in the United States will take away from your restaurants and cooking?

From Salon

Lalas and I met for a conversation recently over lunch at the Tarzana diner where John Wooden, Walton’s college coach, ate breakfast almost every day.

From Los Angeles Times

Recounting one particularly vulnerable moment in a diner bathroom — post-milkshakes, no Lactaid in sight — Slate wistfully describes “that feeling, like, when you can tell you’re about to pass away.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bistro
• booth
• coffee shop
• saloon