Phrasal verb
dine out
Definition
phrasal verb. to eat a meal at a restaurant instead of at home.
phrasal verb. to eat a meal away from home, typically in a restaurant; intransitive and often carries a connotation of a social or special occasion.
Examples
“We like to dine out on Friday nights.”
“Since they moved to the city center, they dine out at local bistros almost every weekend.”
“While the couple occasionally enjoyed cooking together, they preferred to dine out at high-end establishments to celebrate significant milestones.”
Examples
simple
“We like to dine out on Friday nights.”
contextual
“Since they moved to the city center, they dine out at local bistros almost every weekend.”
complex
“While the couple occasionally enjoyed cooking together, they preferred to dine out at high-end establishments to celebrate significant milestones.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dine out” in context.
Verb
01. afford to dine out
“Since he lost his job, he can't afford to dine out very often.”
verb + infinitive
02. dine out and celebrate
“They decided to dine out and celebrate their wedding anniversary.”
verb + and + verb
03. love to dine out
“We love to dine out at the new Italian restaurant on weekends.”
verb + infinitive
Noun
04. chance to dine out
“I haven't had a chance to dine out since the baby was born.”
noun + infinitive
05. decision to dine out
“Our decision to dine out was made at the last minute when we realized the fridge was empty.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
06. dine out together
“The whole family usually dines out together on Sunday afternoons.”
verb + adv
07. rarely dine out
“We rarely dine out during the week because we prefer cooking at home.”
adv + verb
08. regularly dine out
“Many city residents regularly dine out because they have very small kitchens.”
adv + verb
Usage
intransitive; you cannot 'dine out a meal'.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'eat out' (more common/casual) and 'eat in' (the antonym); 'dine out' is slightly more elegant but still widely used in daily life.
Pitfall
We dined out a pizza last night.
We ate a pizza last night.
'dine out' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object like a specific food item.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
dine + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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