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

Chefs have spotlit the bean in desserts, cocktails, and savory dishes, using its rarity and semi-legal status to entice diners. —JSTOR Daily, 15 Nov. 2025

The generational trend is particularly bad news for fast-casual restaurants, which skew toward younger diners. —Amelia Lucas,melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025

The deal allows diners to choose two entrees and a popular appetizer, such as Boneless Wings, Crunchy Onion Rings or Mozzarella Sticks, or two side salads. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025

Now, in a new location down the street from its original home, the classic Chinese-American diner rooted in a historic Jewish community is serving Canton Knish to a fresh fan base. —Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025

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