restaurant
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of restaurant
An Americanism first recorded in 1820–30; from French, noun use of present participle of restaurer, from Latin restaurāre “to restore, reestablish”; cf. re- ( def. ), store
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How does restaurant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A restaurant is a place — usually inside a building — where you go to eat food, which, most of the time, you must pay for. Restaurant comes from the French restaurer, which means "to provide food for." Restaurants will provide food for you if you've got the cash, and most of the time they'll even let you sit down right there and eat it. Common examples of restaurants include burger joints, cafeterias, pizzerias, sandwich shops, steak houses, seafood shacks, (some) hot-dog stands, ice cream parlors, taquerias, Chinese takeout, (some) bakeries, and fine-dining establishments.
Vocabulary lists containing restaurant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As a franchiser, Restaurant Brands makes most of its money from franchisees rather than from running restaurants itself.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
“What this shows is 15 very significant cracks across the country at the state legislative level,” said Sean Kennedy, head of public affairs at the National Restaurant Association.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
In comparison, Yum Brands’ stock has gained 7% in 2026 while Restaurant Brands shares have rallied 15.7%.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026
Restaurant Brands International, which owns chains like Burger King, is more insulated.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
She raced down the block to the Medici Restaurant, pulled open the heavy wooden door, and flung herself inside.
From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
