# dining

/ˈdaɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /dˈaɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dining
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. eating a meal

noun · CEFR B1

the act of eating a meal, often in a social or formal way.

For teachers: the activity of eating dinner or a formal meal, often implying a social occasion.

- The hotel offers fine dining with a view of the ocean.
- The city is famous for its outdoor dining, with hundreds of small tables lining the narrow cobblestone streets during the summer months.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'fine dining' to refer to high-quality restaurants.

### 2. related to eating

noun · CEFR A2

used to describe things used for eating, like a room or furniture.

For teachers: used as an attributive noun to describe objects or spaces designed for the consumption of meals.

- We bought a new dining table that is large enough for eight people.
- The architect placed the dining area adjacent to the kitchen to ensure a seamless flow during large family gatherings.

Usage: Commonly appears before other nouns like 'room', 'table', or 'area'.

## Examples

- The hotel offers fine dining in its main hall.
- After a long day of sightseeing, we looked for a quiet spot for evening dining near the river.
- The shift toward casual dining has transformed the restaurant industry, leading many traditional establishments to relax their dress codes and simplify their menus.

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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.