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

An executive nobody had heard of became a target of online attacks for the offense of trying to turn around a fading chicken and biscuits restaurant. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Its name is a nod to the staff meal everyone enjoys together before a restaurant service. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026

Several people were killed on Saturday afternoon in a shooting in Twin Falls, Idaho, near an In-N-Out restaurant, according to local authorities. — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 2 Aug. 2026

Top Chef and Traitors fans, don’t skip out on a visit to Kristen Kish’s restaurant Arlo Grey, also located on the hotel’s first floor. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 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"