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.

Madeleine's parents had been dining with friends at a restaurant a short walk away while their daughter and her younger twin siblings were asleep in the ground-floor apartment.

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025

Wheeler had been dining in a tented area with Sam Adams, who served one term as Portland mayor, from 2009 to 2013.

From Fox News • Jan. 27, 2021

Broidy, the California businessman and new Mar-a-Lago member, had been dining with Dragnea and arranged an impromptu introduction to Trump.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 10, 2020

Martin’s even produced a witness two years ago, a former White House chief of protocol who had been dining at the restaurant that night, although he admits he didn’t see the proposal take place.

From Washington Post • May 18, 2017

“Mr. de Winter had been dining with Mr. Crawley down at his house,” she went on.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier