a lovely dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

"a lovely dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a pleasant meal. For example: "We had a lovely dinner at the new restaurant downtown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

We had had a lovely dinner and just got down.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Thank you for such a lovely dinner," I said, instead.

The New York Times - Magazine

Last night, Hélène David-Weill and Nadja Swarovski gave a lovely dinner for the designer at the museum.

The New York Times

"I had a lovely dinner here two nights ago," he said.

The New Yorker

An astounding group of old Barolos was calling, along with a lovely dinner and congenial company.

The New York Times

My girlfriend and I came home after a lovely dinner and chilled on the couch, eating tiramisu and fast-forwarding through the boring parts, the technical awards.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Combined with crab they work as a lovely dinner-party starter or a snack at a drinks party.

Independent

We then had a really lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant right near the hotel and on the ocean.

Huffington Post

We had a really lovely dinner altogether after our first read through, and I got to chat with everyone.

Huffington Post

For the past year, locals have been wandering in after work to enjoy a modest but lovely dinner service that's conversant in the clichés of the borough — think kale croquettes — but never succumbs to them.

The New Yorker

It would make a lovely light dinner as well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lovely dinner" to convey a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction with a meal in both formal and informal contexts. The phrase is versatile and suitable for describing a positive dining experience.

Common error

While "a lovely dinner" is acceptable in most situations, be mindful of overuse in overly formal or academic writing. Consider stronger, more descriptive adjectives depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lovely dinner" functions primarily as a noun phrase, with "lovely" acting as an adjective modifying the noun "dinner". It is used to describe a specific type of meal experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lovely dinner" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe an enjoyable dining experience. As verified by Ludwig AI, it functions as a noun phrase and is versatile for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While perfectly acceptable, writers should consider the audience and context when selecting more descriptive alternatives for added precision or formality. The phrase conveys positive sentiments about the meal, making it a suitable expression for sharing good experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a splendid dinner

Replaces "lovely" with "splendid", emphasizing the grandeur and impressiveness of the dinner.

a delicious dinner

Replaces "lovely" with "delicious", focusing on the taste and flavor of the meal.

a delightful dinner

Substitutes "lovely" with "delightful", highlighting the pleasantness and enjoyment of the dinner experience.

a wonderful dinner

Replaces "lovely" with "wonderful", suggesting a positive and memorable dining experience.

a fantastic dinner

Substitutes "lovely" with "fantastic", conveying enthusiasm and excitement about the dinner.

a pleasant dinner

Replaces "lovely" with "pleasant", focusing on the agreeable and enjoyable nature of the dinner.

a charming dinner

Substitutes "lovely" with "charming", suggesting an elegant and delightful dinner.

a great dinner

Replaces "lovely" with "great", offering a more general expression of enjoyment.

a nice dinner

Substitutes "lovely" with "nice", providing a simple and understated description of the dinner.

a good dinner

Replaces "lovely" with "good", providing a very general expression of enjoyment.

FAQs

How can I use "a lovely dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "a lovely dinner" to describe a pleasant meal you've had. For example, "We had "a lovely dinner" at the new Italian restaurant".

What can I say instead of "a lovely dinner"?

You can use alternatives such as "a delicious dinner", "a splendid dinner", or "a pleasant dinner" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a lovely dinner" in formal writing?

Yes, "a lovely dinner" is generally acceptable in formal writing, but consider the specific context and audience. More descriptive adjectives might be preferable in certain academic or professional settings.

What makes a dinner "lovely"?

A "lovely" dinner implies that the meal was enjoyable, perhaps due to the food, the company, the atmosphere, or a combination of these factors.