as in restaurants
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 cafeterias
It is also designed for institutional settings, including schools, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias, as well as travel operators such as airlines and cruise lines looking to ensure passenger safety.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Jan. 2026
Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2026
Steer clear of windows and avoid seeking refuge in large open areas such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Jan. 2026
And many school cafeterias don’t have the infrastructure or equipment to prepare fresh food on-site.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
The moist, richly chocolaty sponge speaks to their quality ingredients—few restaurants, let alone cafeterias, use top-tier Nielsen-Massey vanilla in their confections like this place does.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
The company dominates the neighborhood to the west of the hangar, a spread of dull office buildings revolving around the central Googleplex, with its employee swimming pools, volleyball courts, and eighteen cafeterias.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
At least 10 districts in Idaho said in 2023 that their bathrooms, gyms and cafeterias weren’t all accessible.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2025
The Bardwells rotate their crops, minimize their use of pesticides, and presumably contribute to the de-poisoning of America’s K-12 cafeterias.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Jan. 2026
Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2026
Steer clear of windows and avoid seeking refuge in large open areas such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Jan. 2026
And many school cafeterias don’t have the infrastructure or equipment to prepare fresh food on-site.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
The moist, richly chocolaty sponge speaks to their quality ingredients—few restaurants, let alone cafeterias, use top-tier Nielsen-Massey vanilla in their confections like this place does.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
The company dominates the neighborhood to the west of the hangar, a spread of dull office buildings revolving around the central Googleplex, with its employee swimming pools, volleyball courts, and eighteen cafeterias.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
At least 10 districts in Idaho said in 2023 that their bathrooms, gyms and cafeterias weren’t all accessible.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2025
The Bardwells rotate their crops, minimize their use of pesticides, and presumably contribute to the de-poisoning of America’s K-12 cafeterias.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cafeterias
restaurants
Noun
-
More than 70,000 fans are expected in the area between Thursday and Friday, according to event organizers, and that surge has restaurants and bars preparing for long lines, packed tables, and a major boost in revenue.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
What began as a few socially distanced pop-up events quickly evolved into a local weekend staple, appearing at farmers markets, festivals, restaurants and other retail venues.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cafeterias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cafeterias. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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