as in restaurant
a place where people get food at a counter and carry it to a table for eating
The restaurant resembled a school cafeteria.
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Recent Examples of cafeteria
Maintain a safe distance from windows and avoid seeking refuge in large open rooms like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—
Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
Their initial meeting in the cafeteria seemed long ago.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
If a fan is not a pick, it is donated locally to either a nearby school district (the Lasko Whirlwind, for instance, is currently cooling elementary-school cafeteria workers) or the Buy Nothing Project.
—Kat Merck, Wired News, 19 Apr. 2026
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 3299 (AFSCME) union’s membership covers essential workers including custodians, food service staff in campus dining halls and hospital cafeterias, gardeners, and skilled craft workers including plumbers and electricians.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cafeteria
Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
Their initial meeting in the cafeteria seemed long ago.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
If a fan is not a pick, it is donated locally to either a nearby school district (the Lasko Whirlwind, for instance, is currently cooling elementary-school cafeteria workers) or the Buy Nothing Project.
—Kat Merck, Wired News, 19 Apr. 2026
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 3299 (AFSCME) union’s membership covers essential workers including custodians, food service staff in campus dining halls and hospital cafeterias, gardeners, and skilled craft workers including plumbers and electricians.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cafeteria
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cafeteria
Noun
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Afterward, Lampley and the band’s saxophonist, Louis Fouché, headed to an Italian restaurant.—
Mark Yarm,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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On Saturday, instead of celebrating its 75‑year anniversary, the restaurant hosted a relief fundraiser.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Noun
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The Morning Fork is a mom-and-pop diner serving brunch classics like a full or half order of eggs benedict ($17), Belgian waffles ($12) and burritos ($20).—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
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The end is near for a Meridian restaurant that has fed hungry diners for nearly two decades.—
Michael Deeds
Updated May 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools lunchroom workers rallied outside of the Board of Education yesterday, demanding higher pay as contract negotiations approach the one-year mark.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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One day, Dahlstrom made a vulgar joke in a lunchroom referencing oral sex and pubic hair, according to the employee.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cafeteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cafeteria. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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