diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər 

1

: a person who dines (as in a restaurant) or who is dining

2

a

: dining car

b

chiefly US : a typically small, informal, and inexpensive restaurant that has an extensive menu and that is often made from or designed to resemble a modified railroad dining car

had lunch at a roadside diner

Synonyms

• restaurant
• cafe

Examples of diner in a Sentence

we'll just grab a quick hamburger at the local diner

Recent Examples on the Web

Compelling diners to pause comes naturally, perhaps because this parade of beautiful moments was such a long time coming. —The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025

The true answer, of course, is ultimately up for diners to decide. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025

While waiting, diners sip fresh sugarcane juice and can uncork their BYOB (wine and Champagne only, no corkage fee) at communal tables. —Melissa Malamut, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025

Addresses that shuttered last year are already occupied with new tenants, the turnkey transition opening new doors for diners. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing diner

• diner-out

Rhymes for diner

• finer
• liner
• miner
• minor
• schreiner
• seiner
• shiner
• shriner
• signer
• viner
• weiner
• airliner

Kids Definition

diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər 

1

: one that dines

2

a

: dining car

b

: a restaurant in the shape of a railroad car