restaurant

noun

res·​tau·​rant ˈre-stə-ˌränt 

-stränt

also -st(ə-)rənt, 

-stərnt

: a business establishment where meals or refreshments may be purchased

Synonyms of restaurant

• diner
• grill
• cafeteria

Examples of restaurant in a Sentence

when we get sick of cooking dinner at home, we like to go out to eat at a nice restaurant

Recent Examples on the Web

Many visitors walked by the hotel and would stop off at its bars and restaurants. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026

Smoked salmon on an English muffin and topped with an egg and Hollandaise sauce is on the menu at Summerland Cafe, Anne Quatrano's latest breakfast and lunch restaurant. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 25 July 2026

Mecklenburg County sanitation scores The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 1,672 restaurants were inspected over the course of the three months. — Eva Flowe july 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026

The festivities also included an early birthday dinner at the Parisian restaurant Siena, where friends surprised Lopez with a Chantilly-style birthday cake topped with fresh berries and torched meringue, a source previously told PEOPLE. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "restorative food or drink, public establishment where food and drink may be purchased," noun derivative from present participle of restaurer "to repair, refresh, renew," going back to Old French restorer, restaurer — more at restore

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing restaurant

• Chinese restaurant syndrome
• restaurant car

Rhymes for restaurant

• commandant
• confidant
• conodont
• debutante
• nonchalant
• avant
• croissant
• detente
• entente
• passant
• savant
• storefront

Kids Definition

restaurant

noun

res·​tau·​rant ˈres-t(ə-)rənt 

-tə-ˌränt

: a business place where meals or refreshments may be bought

Etymology

from French restaurant "food that restores, restaurant," from restaurer "to restore, renew"