diner

American  

[dahy-ner] / ˈdaɪ nər /

noun

1. a person who dines.

2. a railroad dining car.

3. a restaurant built like such a car.

4. a small, informal, and usually inexpensive restaurant.

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diner British  

/ ˈdaɪnə /

noun

1. a person eating a meal, esp in a restaurant

2. a small restaurant, often at the roadside

3. a fashionable bar, or a section of one, where food is served

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Etymology

Origin of diner

First recorded in 1800–10; dine + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Wine director Lee Campbell of Borgo in New York sees quite a few solo diners; most order wine, usually by the glass.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last year was tough, though, as enthusiasm for the brand waned and cash-strapped diners abandoned fast-casual options for cheaper fast food and homemade meals.

From Los Angeles Times

At a diner on the outskirts of Doylestown, views were similarly mixed.

From Barron's

And in quick succession, spoons clinked onto plates as diner after diner slid the meal away.

From Literature

“The turning point really was the Olympics,” he said last month over brunch in a crowded Sherman Oaks diner.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bistro
• booth
• coffee shop
• saloon