1
: a person who dines (as in a restaurant) or who is dining
2
a
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
Occasionally, breakfast proceedings would be interrupted by a cheeky monkey sitting up on the rafters, and staffers would be on high alert with their wild gesticulating, causing tittering among diners.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Greek immigrants helped shape the city’s food scene by opening diners, sandwich shops and Italian restaurants as Charlotte grew.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
From tasting menus that spotlight a single grain variety to butcher counters featuring specific heritage breeds, professional kitchens are translating obscure agricultural choices into experiences diners remember.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
To become diners’ first option, McDonald’s plans to focus on menu innovation that elevates taste and quality, like improvements to its McCrispy chicken line.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for diner
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Greek immigrants helped shape the city’s food scene by opening diners, sandwich shops and Italian restaurants as Charlotte grew.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
From tasting menus that spotlight a single grain variety to butcher counters featuring specific heritage breeds, professional kitchens are translating obscure agricultural choices into experiences diners remember.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
To become diners’ first option, McDonald’s plans to focus on menu innovation that elevates taste and quality, like improvements to its McCrispy chicken line.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for diner
Cite this Entry
“Diner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diner. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diner
noun
din·er
ˈdī-nər 
1
: one that dines
2
a
b
: a restaurant in the shape of a railroad car
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