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.
In September, the burger diner chain, on social media, copped to being behind a billboard in Nashville, Tennessee, calling for the ouster of Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino. Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 10 Oct. 2025 This family-run retro diner started as a soda fountain in the 1940s and expanded. Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025 At one point, Ron walks into a diner in the throes of chaos. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025 Because of her quick response, the diner was able to recover safely. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diner. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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
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