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 federal court documents obtained by USA TODAY, Philip Parsons, Razzoo’s CEO, said the decision to file for bankruptcy comes after declining sales as well as shifts in consumer spending, diner preferences for convenience and other factors. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025 Once a biker repair shop, the cyclist-friendly eatery is now a cozy Millbrook staple, doubling not only as the diner's interior but also appearing in exterior shots that bring the fictional streets of Tall Pines to life. Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025 Higher beef prices, which have eased somewhat recently, weighed on shares as investors worry about whether Texas Roadhouse will pass on the additional costs to diners or absorb them. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025 Restaurant menus adapt to diners’ evolving palates. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 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

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Cite this Entry

“Diner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diner. Accessed 6 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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