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
If a cafeteria staff has the time, personnel, and cutting boards to pre-slice their apples, the apples become more enticing to the youngest kids and to kids of any age who wear braces.
—
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Alexandra Shapiro and Brian Steel are in the cafeteria having a chat as the latter loads up on valuable potassium via a morning banana.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Take a cafeteria in a school that’s used from 11 am to 1 pm.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for cafeteria
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Alexandra Shapiro and Brian Steel are in the cafeteria having a chat as the latter loads up on valuable potassium via a morning banana.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Take a cafeteria in a school that’s used from 11 am to 1 pm.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for cafeteria
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cafeteria
Noun
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These houses were once used for Rockport’s fishing and granite industry, and are now home to quaint shops, restaurants, and art galleries.—
Megan Margulies,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
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Leisure and hospitality, which includes restaurants and bars, also added 28,000 jobs in August.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For a more glamorous view, try the deck outside Cappuccino Palau March, a cafe across the street from the Palau Reial de l’Almudaina, a historic palace of the Spanish royal family (admission, €7).—
Emilio Parra Doiztua,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Two other local cafes — Barns and The Coffee Address — have started talks with banks about potential share sales, while luxury retailer and restaurant chain Bateel is in discussions with advisers after already hiring Morgan Stanley, people familiar said.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And while the Fishermen’s Village restaurant concept may sound like fried shrimp and fries, Martin suggested high-end diners would be a target, too.—
Pedro Portal,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
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Bronze mermaids, floating fish, and a large octopus sculpture by Damien Hirst look down on diners in the dining room.—
Sara Liss,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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With an exception here and there, most of these guys started gambling as teens, playing lunchroom hold-em and NFL parlays for a buck or two a throw.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
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Margit and Bonnie drifted further into Pam’s orbit and decided not to speak to Catherine, which made the lunchroom newly problematic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cafeteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cafeteria. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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