# diner

/ˈdaɪnɝ/ (US) · /dˈaɪnɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diner
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a person eating

noun · CEFR B1

a person who is eating a meal, especially in a restaurant.

For teachers: an individual who is consuming a meal, typically in a commercial dining establishment.

- The waiter moved quickly between the tables, taking orders from the hungry diners.
- The restaurant was filled with late-night diners, most of whom were enjoying the quiet atmosphere after the theatre crowds had dispersed.

### 2. American restaurant

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a small, casual restaurant in North America that often looks like a train car and serves simple food.

For teachers: a characteristically American style of casual restaurant, historically designed to resemble a railway carriage and typically featuring a long counter.

- We stopped at a roadside diner for a quick breakfast of eggs and coffee.
- The classic American diner remains a cultural icon, known for its stainless steel exterior, vinyl booths, and twenty-four-hour service.

### 3. train car

noun · CEFR B2

a carriage on a train where passengers can sit and eat meals.

For teachers: a railway carriage equipped for the preparation and service of meals to passengers.

- We walked through several carriages to find the diner for some lunch.
- The luxury train featured a beautifully restored diner where passengers could enjoy three-course meals while watching the landscape pass by.

## Examples

- We ate breakfast at the diner on Main Street.
- The late-night diner stayed open for tired drivers and shift workers.
- The classic American diner, with its chrome trim and neon signs, remains a symbol of roadside culture.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.