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

The foundation recognized the diner as a vital social and cultural anchor for the Black community in Los Angeles. —Angela Osorio, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026

The mild meats and cheeses should be consumed first, with diners gradually moving on to the most intense ones so as to not overpower the more delicate flavors. —Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026

But the chain needed more reactions from everyday diners. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026

Taylor pictured a retro servers-on-skate diner vibe with banquettes shaped like 1950s cars, with leather chef’s jackets. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Feb. 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
• viner
• weiner
• airliner

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