dine out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
CommonInformal to neutral; formal when referring to a social occasion.
Quick answer
What does “dine out” mean?
To eat a meal away from home, typically in a restaurant or at someone else's home.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To eat a meal away from home, typically in a restaurant or at someone else's home.
To eat a main meal, especially dinner, outside of one's own home; also used figuratively to mean exploiting or benefiting from a story or piece of information repeatedly (e.g., "He dined out on that anecdote for years").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
BE uses 'dine out' with a slightly higher register and somewhat more frequently in the figurative sense. AE uses 'eat out' more frequently for the literal act, reserving 'dine out' for more formal or special occasions.
Connotations
In BE, it carries a mild connotation of a social or slightly formal event. In AE, it often specifically suggests a more upscale or planned meal than casual fast food.
Frequency
'Eat out' is more common than 'dine out' in both dialects, but 'dine out' remains widely understood and used.
Grammar
How to Use “dine out” in a Sentence
[Subject] dines out.[Subject] dines out [Prepositional Phrase: e.g., at a bistro].[Subject] dines out [Prepositional Phrase: e.g., with colleagues].[Subject] dines out on [Noun Phrase: e.g., an expense account / that story].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dine out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They dine out at least twice a month.
- He's still dining out on the story of his meeting with the Prime Minister.
- Shall we dine out this weekend?
American English
- Let's dine out for our anniversary.
- She loves to dine out at the new Italian place.
- He dined out on his war stories for decades.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"We'll be dining out with the clients to discuss the contract." (Semi-formal business entertainment)
Academic
Rare in academic texts, except perhaps in sociological studies of leisure habits.
Everyday
"Shall we dine out this Friday, or cook at home?"
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dine out”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dine out”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dine out”
- Incorrect: *'We will dine in a restaurant.' (Correct: 'dine at a restaurant' or simply 'dine out'.)
- Incorrect: *'I dined out a pizza.' (One dines out ON a story, but AT a place or WITH people.)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Dine out' often implies a more formal or complete meal (like dinner), while 'eat out' is more general and can refer to any meal, including casual fast food.
Yes, though it's less common. It's best used for the main meal of the day. For lunch, 'eat out' or 'go out for lunch' is more frequent.
No, it is a phrasal verb that is not separable. You cannot say 'dine it out'. The object, if any, follows a preposition (e.g., dine out ON a story, dine out AT a place).
It is neutral to slightly formal. It's more formal than 'eat out' but less formal than 'take supper' or 'partake of a meal'. It's perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation when referring to a restaurant meal.
To eat a meal away from home, typically in a restaurant or at someone else's home.
Dine out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪn ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪn ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dine out on something: To repeatedly use a particular story or piece of news to gain social advantage or attention.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FINE DINE sign outside a restaurant. You go OUT to DINE = DINE OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INTERACTION IS A MEAL (the activity of sharing a meal stands for broader social engagement and relationship building).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'dine out on something' (figuratively)?