# dinner

/ˈdɪnɝ/ (US) · /dˈɪnɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. main daily meal

noun · CEFR A1

the largest or most important meal of the day, often eaten in the evening.

For teachers: the principal meal of the day, typically consumed in the evening in modern urban contexts.

- We usually have dinner together as a family around seven o'clock.
- After a long day at the office, they preferred to prepare a simple dinner at home rather than eating out at a restaurant.

### 2. midday meal

noun · CEFR A2 · British English · Dialect

the meal eaten in the middle of the day, especially for children at school.

For teachers: a midday meal, particularly in British English or specific socio-economic contexts where the evening meal is lighter.

- The children are having their school dinner in the hall right now.
- In many northern communities, the term dinner traditionally refers to the substantial meal served at noon, while the evening meal is called tea.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'school dinner' to refer to the meal provided to students at noon.

### 3. formal event

noun · CEFR B1 · Formal

a formal party or event where a large meal is served to many people.

For teachers: a formal social occasion or banquet held in honour of a person or event.

- He wore a suit to the annual awards dinner at the hotel.
- The charity hosted a black-tie dinner to raise funds for the new hospital wing, attracting several high-profile donors.

## Examples

- We usually have dinner together at seven o'clock.
- After a long day at the office, she prepared a simple pasta dinner for her family.
- The annual gala concluded with a formal three-course dinner where the keynote speaker addressed the guests on the importance of community service.

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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.