dinner
gb/dˈɪnɚ/ us/dˈɪnɚ/
A1
English
~ 1500
vacsora, díszvacsora, vacsoraparti
NOUN
A1
1
vacsora
A1
Usage pattern:
to have [dinner]
We usually have dinner at around 7 p.m.
Általában este 7 körül vacsorázunk.
She invited me over for dinner on Friday night.
Meghívott magához vacsorára péntek estére.
I’m too tired to cook dinner today.
They went out for a fancy dinner to celebrate their anniversary.
Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.
Learner examples
We eat dinner at six o’clock.
Hat órakor vacsorázunk.
My mother makes dinner every night.
Anyukám minden este vacsorát készít.
I have rice and chicken for dinner.
He is cooking dinner in the kitchen.
They are eating dinner together.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dinner' with 'lunch'. In most English-speaking countries, 'dinner' usually refers to the evening meal, but in some places it can mean a midday meal.
Meaning
Main evening meal
Collocations
have dinner
|eat dinner
|make dinner
|invite to dinner
|go out for dinner
Synonyms
supper (Used in some regions for the evening meal, though 'dinner' is more common in standard English.)
Antonyms
breakfast (Breakfast is the first meal of the day, while dinner is typically the last.)
Themes
daily life
|food
|meals
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The main meal people eat in the evening.
The main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
attend [a] dinner
The company hosted a formal dinner for its clients.
A cég hivatalos vacsorát adott az ügyfeleinek.
We were invited to a charity dinner last weekend.
Múlt hétvégén meghívtak minket egy jótékonysági vacsorára.
The president held a state dinner for foreign leaders.
Learner examples
I went to a big dinner at my school.
Elmentem egy nagy vacsorára az iskolámban.
They had a dinner to celebrate his birthday.
Születésnapi vacsorát tartottak neki.
The hotel had a special dinner for guests.
Meaning
Formal or special meal event
Collocations
formal dinner
|charity dinner
|business dinner
|state dinner
Synonyms
banquet (A large formal meal, often with many guests and courses.)
Themes
events
|food
|social
|food_drink
|relationships
Definition
A special event where people eat a full meal together, usually for celebration or business.
A formal or special occasion at which a full meal is served, often in the evening.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dinner
IPA
GB/dˈɪnɚ/
US/dˈɪnɚ/
Syllables & stress
din - ner (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (din)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dinner
- Plural: dinner, dinners
Word family
Forms
dinners
noun
Core family
dine
verb B1
Related words
diner
noun
dinnertime
noun
Advanced or less common
dinnerware
noun
Expressions
dinner date
1/dˈɪnɚ dˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
Romantic or social meeting over dinner
A planned time when two people eat an evening meal together, often as part of dating.
Examples
- They went on their first dinner date last night.
- He asked her out on a dinner date.
dinner party
1/dˈɪnɚ pˈɑɹti/
fixed phrase
Social gathering with an evening meal at home
A party at someone's home where they serve guests an evening meal.
Examples
- They hosted a small dinner party for their closest friends.
- I met her at a dinner party last year.
have someone over for dinner
1/hˈæv sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈoʊvɚ fɚ dˈɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Invite someone for an evening meal at home
To ask someone to come to your home and eat the evening meal with you.
Examples
- We’re having my parents over for dinner this Sunday.
- She loves having friends over for dinner and cooking new recipes.
out to dinner
1/ˈaʊt tə dˈɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Go somewhere to eat an evening meal
To go to a restaurant or another place to eat the evening meal.
Examples
- They went out to dinner to celebrate their anniversary.
- I can’t talk now—we’re out to dinner with clients.