diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər How to pronounce diner (audio)
1
: a person who dines (as in a restaurant) or who is dining
2
b
chiefly US : a typically small, informal, and inexpensive restaurant that has an extensive menu and that is often made from or designed to resemble a modified railroad dining car
had lunch at a roadside diner

Examples of diner in a Sentence

we'll just grab a quick hamburger at the local diner
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eventually, the modern steakhouse was born in Gotham, with higher-quality cuts than a chophouse and diners of the same elevated social class as the Beefsteak attendees. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025 Hamrah was inspired by Novels in Three Lines, by Félix Fénéon, and Coffee News, a long-running publication printed on diner place mats. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 In the past year alone, the city on Florida’s southeast coast earned its first Michelin stars and seen many other spots lure eager diners to the table. Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025 The actor infamously played Jeff, the hunky diner manager who dared to come between the show's endgame couple. Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diner

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diner was in 1815

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diner. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

diner

noun
din·​er ˈdī-nər How to pronounce diner (audio)
1
: one that dines
2
b
: a restaurant in the shape of a railroad car

More from Merriam-Webster on diner

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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