family style
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of family style
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Taking its cue from the Bergman installation, the National Gallery will display its Cornells grouped together family style in a horizontal wall case in an upstairs gallery.
From New York Times • Jan. 15, 2024
In a family style setting, all the food is in the middle of the table and everyone shares all the dishes, promoting a balanced meal and a little bit of everything.
From Salon • Jun. 13, 2023
I don’t know if this gets into the episode, but Evelyn made a decision to put the dessert on its own plate and not family style.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2022
It’s a similar concept: tapas-style small plates and entrées served family style.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 27, 2021
The food was served family style and I ate so much I came close to making myself sick.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.