dinner

American  

[din-er] / ˈdɪn ər /

noun

1. the main meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday.

2. a formal meal in honor of some person or occasion.

3. table d'hôte.

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dinner British  

/ ˈdɪnə /

noun

1. a meal taken in the evening

2. a meal taken at midday, esp when it is the main meal of the day; lunch

3. 1. a formal evening meal, as of a club, society, etc

   2. a public banquet in honour of someone or something

4. a complete meal at a fixed price in a restaurant; table d'hôte

5. (modifier) of, relating to, or used at dinner

   dinner plate

   dinner table

   dinner hour

6. informal (usually passive) to do for, overpower, or outdo

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Other Word Forms

• dinnerless adjective
• predinner noun

Etymology

Origin of dinner

1250–1300; Middle English diner < Old French disner (noun use of v.); dine

Example Sentences

Then I’d have dinner at Met Him at a Bar, my favorite spot.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The four friends aren’t just having a dinner party; they’re finalizing the catering menu for Charlie and Emma’s nuptials.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

We piled into the Jeep, which he had just purchased, to get to dinner one night.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

One night over dinner, I admitted to my husband that I felt stalled.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

I was instantly transported back to that last formal dinner at my house where he showed off his latest security prototype to my hard-to-impress mother.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• banquet
• feast
• supper