diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər How to pronounce diner (audio)
Synonyms of dinernext
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 the midst of a weekday lunch rush, Xavier Becerra walked through a bustling food hall in Los Angeles, shaking hands with diners and thanking them, in English and Spanish, for their support. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Daily News, 9 June 2026 Service is the next day, and here’s what the chefs serve for their progressive menus to a number of guest diners including their mentors, Food & Wine magazine EIC Hunter Lewis, and chefs Eric Ferguson, Camari Mick, Nok Suntaranon, Brandon Jew, and Val Cantu. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 June 2026 During busy hours, diners regularly found the 30-seat dining room packed. Sheeka Sanahori - For The Ajc, AJC.com, 9 June 2026 At a steakhouse, tableside presentation, professional servers and beautiful slabs of beef start entertaining diners before the first bite. David Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 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 11 Jun. 2026.

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

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