diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər How to pronounce diner (audio)
1
: a person who dines (as in a restaurant) or who is dining
2
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

Examples of diner in a Sentence

we'll just grab a quick hamburger at the local diner
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The opening of Trocadero’s adds to Roux’s legacy in the United Kingdom, and gives diners one more spot for chowing down on his lauded fare. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2024 Outside the tiny storefront, the sidewalk (and often a fair bit of the street) is crowded with diners perched on low plastic stools set around low plastic tables, gustily eating some of the best, most electrifying Vietnamese food in the city. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024 The restaurant’s diminutive footprint is perfectly suited for the intimate omakase experience, with guests dining around a 10-seat, wrap-around counter with a chef’s prep station at its center, giving diners an opportunity to watch their artful dishes being prepared in front of them. Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024 The Brandwatch Food Trend Report says that solo diners will only become even more commonplace in 2024. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for diner 

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diner was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near diner

Cite this Entry

“Diner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diner. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

diner

noun
din·​er ˈdī-nər How to pronounce diner (audio)
1
: one that dines
2
b
: a restaurant in the shape of a railroad car

More from Merriam-Webster on diner

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!