Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for dine. Search instead for dined.
Synonyms

dine

1 American  
[dahyn] / daɪn /

verb (used without object)

dined, dining

  1. to eat the principal meal of the day; have dinner.

  2. to take any meal.

verb (used with object)

dined, dining

  1. to entertain at dinner.

noun

  1. Scot. dinner.

verb phrase

  1. dine out to take a meal, especially the principal or more formal meal of the day, away from home, as in a hotel or restaurant.

    They dine out at least once a week.
Dine 2 American  
[dahyn] / daɪn /

noun

  1. James Jim, born 1935, U.S. painter.

Diné 3 American  
[dih-ney] / dɪˈneɪ /

noun

plural

Dinés,

plural

Diné

  1. a member of the Navajo people.

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Navajo, their language, or their culture.

    handcrafted Diné jewelry.
dine British  
/ daɪn /

verb

  1. (intr) to eat dinner

  2. (intr; often foll by on, off, or upon) to make one's meal (of)

    the guests dined upon roast beef

  3. informal (tr) to entertain to dinner (esp in the phrase wine and dine someone )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
dine Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing dine

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

  • predine verb (used without object)

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."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

Why not pretend to dine in a medieval castle in Miracle Mile or look for trolls on a fern-filled hike in Griffith Park?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

My wife and I seldom dine out, typically only on special occasions such as birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and our wedding anniversary.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

After more strolls along the tundra, I dine at Grill It restaurant, where winter appears plated rather than resisted.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google and one of the world's richest men, visited Epstein's private island and made plans to dine at Epstein's home in New York City, according to the documents released on Friday.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

Ms. Blinny says, “Hmm. Yes. Cafeterias can be isolating. It’s always best to dine with a friend. And you’re right about the crowding. Merrimack has to catch up to itself. This town is full!”

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor

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.