diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər 

1

: a person who dines (as in a restaurant) or who is dining

2

a

: dining car

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

Synonyms of diner

• restaurant

Examples of diner in a Sentence

we'll just grab a quick hamburger at the local diner

Recent Examples on the Web

Head to Los Rios Rancho for seasonal pick-your-own experiences and have a slice of pie at Apple Annie’s—giant and domed like a mountain itself, Apple Annie’s signature pie could feed a dozen diners. — Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026

From Friday to Sunday, singers and alphorn players filled the streets and spontaneous bursts of yodeling echoed through restaurants, where diners initially reacted with surprise before joining in. — Jez Fielder, Fortune, 30 June 2026

The diner has now become a popular tourist destination, with live musical performances by waitstaff. — Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Regina tries to dismiss Louis by saying she’s got to switch the diner to breakfast. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing diner

• diner-out

Rhymes for diner

• finer
• liner
• miner
• minor
• schreiner
• seiner
• shiner
• shriner
• signer
• spinor
• viner
• weiner

Kids Definition

diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər 

1

: one that dines

2

a

: dining car

b

: a restaurant in the shape of a railroad car