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
Free breakfast and lunch for everyone wasn't always the way in school cafeterias, but families became used to the benefit during the pandemic, when federal rules temporarily changed in the face of an unprecedented crisis.
—
Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The 2025 Food Safety Excellence Award winners included drive-thrus, school cafeterias, hospitals, catering companies and grocery stores across the city.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
The first few dinners in the spring reminded Stoney of school cafeterias in the 1950s, with white people on one side of the room and African American people on the other.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
For many of us, peanut butter is a nostalgic food, transporting us back to peanut butter sandwiches in school cafeterias and character lunchboxes on school buses.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
In middle school cafeterias, high school hallways and across college campuses, Charlie Kirk's death spread phone to phone.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
There are old-fashioned Edisons and the tubular bulbs for hospital cafeterias and other places with unpleasant overheads.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2025
French cafeterias typically offer multi-course meals that might include salad, a main dish, bread, cheese and dessert.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
While Fort Worth’s Independent School District does provide lunch in school cafeterias, some students may prefer to bring their own packed lunch.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025
Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The 2025 Food Safety Excellence Award winners included drive-thrus, school cafeterias, hospitals, catering companies and grocery stores across the city.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
The first few dinners in the spring reminded Stoney of school cafeterias in the 1950s, with white people on one side of the room and African American people on the other.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
For many of us, peanut butter is a nostalgic food, transporting us back to peanut butter sandwiches in school cafeterias and character lunchboxes on school buses.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
In middle school cafeterias, high school hallways and across college campuses, Charlie Kirk's death spread phone to phone.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
There are old-fashioned Edisons and the tubular bulbs for hospital cafeterias and other places with unpleasant overheads.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2025
French cafeterias typically offer multi-course meals that might include salad, a main dish, bread, cheese and dessert.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
While Fort Worth’s Independent School District does provide lunch in school cafeterias, some students may prefer to bring their own packed lunch.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cafeterias
Noun
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By September, exposure locations in southwest Utah included high school events, a local festival, and restaurants, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
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The list of 38 places celebrates Eater's 20th anniversary and includes fine dining restaurants, barbecue joints, pizzerias and a Detroit spot – a pie shop.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Botiwallah After a visit to Substrate, a trendy wine bar, Simmons popped into Botiwalla, which is inspired by India's late-night food stalls and Irani cafes.—
Karla Walsh,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
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One of the first Southern California cafes to announce its closure is in Old Towne Orange’s historic plaza.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cafeterias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cafeterias. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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