restaurant

American  

[res-tuh-rahnt, -trahnt] / ˈrɛs təˌrɑnt, -trɑnt /

noun

1. an establishment where meals are served to customers.

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restaurant British  

/ ˈrɛstrɒŋ, -rɒnt, ˈrɛstəˌrɒŋ /

noun

1. a commercial establishment where meals are prepared and served to customers

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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”; re- ( def. ), store

Compare meaning

How does restaurant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bistro vs. restaurant

Example Sentences

One evening, after eating in a restaurant, they stepped outside to find the city transformed: Crowds filled the streets and in some areas, security forces appeared to have lost control.

From BBC

Volunteers with the local tourism board waited on the platform, guiding passengers to the town’s shops, restaurants and hotels.

From The Wall Street Journal

The law on access to businesses and restaurants for disabled people with assistance dogs is ambiguous.

From BBC

The National Retail Federation forecasts 213.1 million U.S. adults will tune in for the football game on Feb. 8, with 121.1 million planning parties and 18.2 million watching from bars or restaurants.

From Barron's

Think of something for their home that doesn’t claim space in yours, like a beautiful print, a sculptural objet d’art, or a framed matchbook from a favorite bar or restaurant.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bar
• cafeteria
• coffee shop
• diner
• dining room
• inn
• outlet
• saloon