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

The hotel anchors Riverfront Village—a neat cluster of condos, restaurants, and the Riverfront Express Gondola. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026

At Nick the Greek in downtown Davis, general manager Trina Ordonez said she's noticed an increase in people experiencing homelessness coming into the restaurant. — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026

Eisenberg, who has been in the restaurant industry for about 50 years, did not serve in the military. — Susan Sarkauskas, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

But probably no one in North Carolina was more caught off guard than the owners of Pump Social, Rachael and AJ Donner, who opened the restaurant in a former gas station in Concord just last August. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 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"