restaurant

noun

res·​tau·​rant ˈre-stə-ˌränt 

-stränt

also -st(ə-)rənt, 

-stərnt

: a business establishment where meals or refreshments may be purchased

Synonyms of restaurant

• diner
• grill
• cafeteria

Examples of restaurant in a Sentence

when we get sick of cooking dinner at home, we like to go out to eat at a nice restaurant

Recent Examples on the Web

Off the lobby is Bastia, the hotel’s all-day restaurant which showcases the foods of Sardinia and Corsica, and the cocktail lounge Caletta. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

Cheers went up at Luna’s watch party at a Mexican restaurant in Carson Tuesday evening, as his family members and supporters learned from a local TV news feed that the sheriff’s race had been called in his favor. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Six restaurants operate during the summer season, ranging from Mediterranean cooking at La Diala and French cuisine at Le Relais to Swiss dishes at Patrizier Stuben and Pizzeria Heuboden in the historic Chesa Veglia. — Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026

The Walnut Room occupies a 17,000-square-foot space on the seventh floor of the former Marshall Field and Company Building and is the first and longest-running department store restaurant, opening in 1907 as the South Tea Room. — Allison Yates, Midwest Living, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "restorative food or drink, public establishment where food and drink may be purchased," noun derivative from present participle of restaurer "to repair, refresh, renew," going back to Old French restorer, restaurer — more at restore

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing restaurant

• Chinese restaurant syndrome
• restaurant car

Rhymes for restaurant

• commandant
• confidant
• conodont
• debutante
• nonchalant
• avant
• croissant
• detente
• entente
• passant
• savant
• storefront

Kids Definition

restaurant

noun

res·​tau·​rant ˈres-t(ə-)rənt 

-tə-ˌränt

: a business place where meals or refreshments may be bought

Etymology

from French restaurant "food that restores, restaurant," from restaurer "to restore, renew"