dine
verb (used without object)
to eat the principal meal of the day; have dinner.
dine
1 American
[dahyn]
/ daɪn /
verb (used without object)
-
dines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dined,
past participle, past
-
dining
present participle
-
to eat the principal meal of the day; have dinner.
-
to take any meal.
verb (used with object)
-
dines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dined,
past participle, past
-
dining
present participle
noun
verb phrase
Dine
2
American
[dahyn]
/ daɪn /
noun
Diné
3
American
[dih-nay]
/ dɪˈneɪ /
noun
-
Dinés,
plural
-
Diné
plural
adjective
dine
British
/ daɪn /
verb
-
(intr) to eat dinner
-
(intr; often foll by on, off, or upon) to make one's meal (of)
the guests dined upon roast beef
-
informal (tr) to entertain to dinner (esp in the phrase wine and dine someone )
dine
Idioms
Sensitive Note
The name Diné comes from the Native Athabascan language of the tribe, and it is preferred by many over Navajo, a name assigned by Spanish missionaries. Nevertheless, Navajo and Navaho are still in use and remain acceptable.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dinesimple
-
dinessimple
-
have dinedperfect
-
has dinedperfect
-
am diningprogressive
-
are diningprogressive
-
is diningprogressive
-
have been diningperfect progressive
-
has been diningperfect progressive
Past
-
dinedsimple
-
had dinedperfect
-
was diningprogressive
-
were diningprogressive
-
had been diningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dine1
1250–1300; Middle English dinen < Anglo-French, Old French di ( s ) ner < Vulgar Latin *disjējūnāre to break one's fast, equivalent to Latin dis- dis- 1 + Late Latin jējūnāre to fast; see jejune
Origin of Diné3
First recorded in 1915–20; a self-designation meaning “The People”; see also Navajo ( def. )
Explanation
To dine is to eat a meal, particularly the last meal of the day. When you invite friends over for dinner, you can ask them if they'd like to dine with you. You can dine at home, or dine at a fancy restaurant — in either case, you're eating dinner. If someone tells you they "dine out on" a funny story, they mean it's endlessly entertaining and buys them a lot of good will and amusement. The verb dine comes from the Old French disner, "to dine" or "to have a meal," from desjunare, "to break one's fast."
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.
See Examples For:
Also, nothing says “you’re a real friend” better than an invitation to dine at home.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
The chorus is the key here, as its smooth riff pauses for Casablancas to softy wail out “We could never afford it / So we dine and dash / I would always go last.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
But there's money to be saved on items needed to buy anyway, that's more cash left over for when you do decide to dine out.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
She can now dine on her deck with her husband and garden without being "terrorized" by bloodsuckers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
When the king came to Gertrude’s chamber to dine, I was given the honor of attending them.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Dine Brands posted a second-quarter profit of $4.3 million, down from $13.8 million a year earlier, while revenue rose 4% to $240.9 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Dine in the historic Great Hall, participate in timely expert-led breakouts and connect with global decision makers in one of the world’s most iconic academic settings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Dine Brands’ stock was up 6%, to $29.84.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
Dine Brands attributed the increase largely to higher company-owned restaurant sales, which were slightly offset by a decrease in franchise revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026
His limbs tingled and tickled, reawakening from the five-hour drive to his paternal grandmother’s mobile home on Dine Homelands, forty-five minutes north of Church Rock.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Diné, 60, was already making plans to rebuild.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
Raven Chacon, a Diné composer and visual artist, won the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 2022.
From New York Times ● May 29, 2024
I did a road trip Arizona through Diné, actually, territory, and Navajo in August.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2024
The hubs will draw on work by Marek-Martinez, who col-leads the Southwest hub, following a research methodology used by Navajo—or Diné, as the Navajo call themselves—scholars.
From Science Magazine ● Oct. 25, 2023
His heart began to heal when he heard her say that she loved him and called him “grandson” in Diné.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
He is also a billionaire statesman who dines with President Trump, a father of three and lately a fan of high-end fashion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Every second Saturday of the month, he dines there with a group of about 10 friends.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2024
Advertising executive Hilda Lee, 30, said she enjoys eating Japanese seafood, and dines at Japanese restaurants two to three times each month.
From Reuters ● Aug. 22, 2023
One dines at the River’s Edge Clubhouse where the food was top-notch, and follows meals with walks on the cobblestone paths around the property.
From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2023
Singe dines with us, and Sophia presents her new, tiny teacup giraffe to the group.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
The following evening, May 9, Eatherly and his cameraman dined at Bob’s Steak & Chop House in the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville, at 250 Rep. John Lewis Way.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
That May, he dined with 220 of its largest holders, some of whom bought up the coin expressly to secure invitations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
He entertained, wined and dined, and flew people around for vacations at his various properties.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Servers in traditional red clothing were seen bustling between colourfully adorned tables, where attendees dined on dishes including Beijing roast duck, pork buns and tiramisu.
From Barron's ● May 14, 2026
There by luck she found winecups and tables still in place—for Father’s attendant counselors had dined just now before they went to the assembly.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
In March 2020, as dining rooms shut down, Chuck E. Cheese launched Pasqually’s Pizza & Wings, a delivery-only brand operating out of its existing kitchens.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
In addition to seven bedrooms and 20 bathrooms, the stately interiors include multiple dining rooms, lounges and a walnut-paneled library.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
The units contained amenities including air conditioners, big-screen televisions, refrigerators, sofas and dining areas.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
The card earns 2 points per dollar on everyday purchases and up to 1.25 times points on rent and 3 times points on groceries and dining.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
I stood on the landing outside the dining room and ran my hand over the smooth wood of the Frisian clock.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
