after dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after dinner" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to signify the time after a meal has been eaten. For example, "After dinner, we will go for a walk in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Take an after dinner walk.

WikiHow

"After dinner".

The New Yorker

What about after dinner?

The New York Times

Before dinner, after dinner.

The New York Times

After dinner, we had brandy.

The New Yorker

Soon after dinner Stella disappeared.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

After-dinner drinks — sambuca, anyone?

The New York Times

An after-dinner cheese.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

●Keep after-dinner snacks small.

The Washington Post

Ghosn's after-dinner remarks are worth repeating.

Forbes

He instead became an after-dinner speaker.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after dinner" to clearly indicate the sequence of events, especially when describing routines, schedules, or chronological narratives. For instance, "After dinner, remember to brush your teeth".

Common error

Avoid inconsistent tense usage. If you're describing a past event, ensure the verb tense following "after dinner" is also in the past. For example, it is correct to say, "After dinner, we watched a movie", not "After dinner, we will watch a movie" when referring to a past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after dinner" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs by indicating when an action takes place. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability as seen in examples like, "After dinner, we had brandy" or "After dinner, my father left the house."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after dinner" serves as a common and grammatically sound way to indicate the timing of events relative to the evening meal. Ludwig AI confirms this, highlighting its use in various contexts such as news, wiki and science. While versatile, it is essential to maintain consistent tense when using the phrase. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts. For variety, alternatives like "following the evening meal" or "post-dinner" can be used. Remember that using "after dinner" helps establish a clear sequence of events in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

After the meal

A more general term, less specific than "dinner".

Post-dinner

A shortened, slightly more casual version using a prefix.

Following the evening meal

Replaces "dinner" with a more formal term, and uses a gerund phrase.

Upon finishing dinner

Highlights the act of completing the meal.

Subsequent to supper

Uses a synonym for dinner ("supper") and a formal preposition.

Once dinner is concluded

Expresses the same timing but with a clause.

After the main course

Focuses on the part of the meal that has concluded, suitable when multiple courses are involved.

Following the repast

Uses a formal and less common synonym for "meal".

Later in the evening

Shifts the focus to the time of day rather than the meal itself.

After eating

A more general term, less specific than "dinner".

FAQs

How do I use "after dinner" in a sentence?

Use "after dinner" to describe activities or events that take place once dinner has been completed. For example, "After dinner, we usually go for a walk".

What are some alternatives to saying "after dinner"?

You can use phrases like "following the evening meal", "post-dinner", or "subsequent to supper" to vary your language.

Is it correct to say "after dinner" or "after the dinner"?

"After dinner" is generally correct and more common when referring to dinner in a general sense. "After the dinner" is appropriate when referring to a specific, previously mentioned dinner.

What typically follows "after dinner" in a sentence?

Typically, you'll find a description of an activity or event that occurs after the meal, such as "After dinner, we relax in the living room".