At dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

"At dinner" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate the time of day when an event is taking place. For example, "We discussed the project at dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At dinner.

The New Yorker

— At dinner, 4 oz.

The New Yorker

At dinner their first night.

The New Yorker

At dinner they played footsies.

The New Yorker

At dinner, he asked for more.

The New Yorker

At dinner, Mrs. Najibullah served the ashak.

The New Yorker

At dinner, appetizers offer the best eating.

The New York Times - Food

At dinner, Larry praises the spuds.

The New Yorker

At dinner he sometimes uses a fork.

The New Yorker

At dinner this all changed.

The Guardian - Travel

At dinner, confused and slow.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "At dinner" to clearly specify when an event or action occurs during the evening meal. For example, "We discussed the contract negotiations at dinner."

Common error

Avoid substituting "at" with prepositions like "in" or "on" when referring to dinner. "At dinner" is the standard and grammatically correct prepositional phrase. For example, don't say "in dinner" or "on dinner".

Linguistic Context

Adverbial Phrase: The phrase "At dinner" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating when an action takes place. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "At dinner" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify when an event takes place during the evening meal. As Ludwig AI indicates, it functions as an adverbial phrase providing temporal context. It's versatile enough for both formal and informal settings, appearing frequently in news, media, and wiki contexts. When writing, ensure you use "at" rather than other prepositions and consider using alternatives like "during dinner" or "over dinner" for variety. By understanding its function and context, you can use "At dinner" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

During dinner

Specifies an event that takes place while dinner is ongoing.

Over dinner

Indicates a discussion or activity happening while sharing a meal.

While having dinner

Expresses the simultaneous action of eating dinner and another event.

At the dinner table

Focuses on the location where dinner is typically eaten.

During the meal

A more general phrase referring to any mealtime.

While dining

A more formal way of saying while eating dinner.

At supper

Uses an alternative word for dinner, often regional.

In the evening meal

A more descriptive way to refer to dinner.

When we ate dinner

Changes the phrase into a clause, specifying a point in time.

Dinner time

Highlights the time when dinner is usually consumed.

FAQs

How do you use "At dinner" in a sentence?

Use "At dinner" to indicate when something happens during the evening meal, for example: "We made plans "at dinner"".

What can I say instead of "At dinner"?

You can use phrases such as "During dinner", "Over dinner", or "While having dinner" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "In dinner" instead of "At dinner"?

No, "In dinner" is not grammatically correct. The correct preposition to use is "At", so you should always say "At dinner".

What's the difference between "At dinner" and "At the dinner table"?

"At dinner" refers to the time when the meal is consumed, while "At the dinner table" refers to the physical location where dinner is eaten.