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

After nearly 140 years in business, The Original Saugus Cafe in Santa Clarita is closing its doors for good, ending its tenure as Los Angeles County's longest-running restaurant. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026

Qualifying projects must plan to use the funds to advertise and promote the city; to stimulate economic growth, overnight stays, restaurant usage or future tourism development with out-of-town visitors; and applicants must be able to track the impact and effectiveness of their event. —James Leigh, Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026

These women are flanked by an ever-expanding cast of quirk-forward local characters, from the gay couple who own a local restaurant and let their pet pig wander the kitchen to a father-and-son handyman duo who like to make unsolicited repairs. —Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Jan. 2026

Warm up at firepits near the rink with hot chocolate from South Bend Chocolate Cafe Express; a full-service restaurant, Howard Park Public House, is also on the site. —Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 4 Jan. 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
• savant
• storefront
• daunt

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"