diner

noun

din·​er ˈdī-nər How to pronounce diner (audio)
Synonyms of dinernext
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.
Visitors can bike a 90-mile scenic route, explore volcanic fissures, or stop for classic diner fare like the Burger Queen Drive-In. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026 The results underscore how legacy pizza chains continue to resonate with consumers, even as restaurant habits evolve and diners increasingly seek value, convenience and familiarity amid higher food costs and economic uncertainty. Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 Trattoria Trullo in Aliso Viejo will host a four-course, gluten-free dinner on Wednesday, May 27, giving diners a rare night of fresh pasta, focaccia and Italian comfort without the usual wheat-flour caveat. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 19 May 2026 From scenic highways and spontaneous detours to roadside inns and vintage diners, road trips offer a certain kind of freedom and ambiance that a flight can simply never replicate. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Diner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diner. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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

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