after dinner with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after dinner with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate an event or activity that takes place following a dinner gathering with someone. Example: "After dinner with my friends, we decided to go for a walk in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Friday Home late after dinner with friends.

The Guardian

Mr and Mrs Sixpack are relaxing after dinner with their iPads.

The Economist

That Thursday night, after dinner with Orr, McDavid played table tennis with Catalde.

The New York Times - Sports

"I drink one cognac after dinner with a cigar as I have done for 40 years".

The New York Times

But last month, after dinner with friends in Bed-Stuy, I had a mini-awakening.

The New Yorker

"The guy gets it," the Jordanian official said after dinner with Obama.

The New York Times

The mayor was expected to stop by after dinner with Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen.

The New York Times

"I honestly can't tell you," he said tonight after dinner with his Qatari counterpart, Maj.

The New York Times

Rick suggests going out in the car after dinner with binoculars to look for the "satellite they put up there".

The New Yorker

After dinner with my family, it was off to the Marine Corps Ball for cocktails and then to Broadway to catch "Spider-Man" with a couple of girlfriends.

The New York Times

On Tuesday, on the way home to Long Island after dinner with former Mayor Edward I. Koch in TriBeCa, Mr. D'Amato and his driver saw it coming.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "after dinner with", ensure the context clearly establishes who you had dinner with. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by placing the phrase "after dinner with" close to the subject performing the subsequent action. For example, instead of "The decision was made after dinner with colleagues", write "After dinner with colleagues, they made the decision".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after dinner with" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the timing and social context of an action. Ludwig examples show it setting the stage for subsequent events or activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "after dinner with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase, as validated by Ludwig. It functions to provide temporal and social context, indicating that an action or event occurred following a meal shared with someone. Predominantly found in news and media sources, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for various communicative contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by placing it close to the subject performing the action and clearly specifying with whom the dinner was shared. Consider alternatives like "following supper with" or "post-dinner with" for slight variations in tone and style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following supper with

Replaces "dinner" with "supper", a synonym, and maintains the structure; minor change in register.

post-dinner with

Uses a prefix to indicate "after dinner", creating a slightly more formal tone while retaining the relational aspect.

following a meal with

A more generic phrasing, replacing "dinner" with "a meal", broadening the scope slightly.

subsequent to dining with

Employs more formal vocabulary ("subsequent", "dining") to indicate time and activity, altering the tone significantly.

once dinner concluded with

Changes the structure to emphasize the completion of the meal before the activity, slightly altering the flow.

upon finishing dinner with

Highlights the completion of the meal as the point of transition to another activity or event.

having dined with

Uses a participle clause to indicate the completion of dinner, altering the sentence structure more significantly.

after sharing dinner with

Emphasizes the act of sharing the meal, highlighting the communal aspect of the dining experience.

after breaking bread with

Employs a more idiomatic and figurative expression for sharing a meal, shifting the focus to the communal aspect.

later that evening with

Focuses on the time frame (evening) rather than the specific activity of dining; suitable if the meal context is already established.

FAQs

How can I use "after dinner with" in a sentence?

Use "after dinner with" to describe an event or activity that occurred following a dinner engagement with someone. For instance, "After dinner with my family, we watched a movie.

What are some alternatives to saying "after dinner with"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "following supper with", "post-dinner with", or "subsequent to dining with".

Is it more formal to say "subsequent to dining with" instead of "after dinner with"?

Yes, "subsequent to dining with" is more formal and appropriate for professional or academic contexts, while "after dinner with" is suitable for general use.

What is the difference between "after dinner with" and "having dined with"?

"After dinner with" typically introduces a main clause, whereas "having dined with" introduces a subordinate clause, providing background information. For example, "After dinner with friends, I went home" versus "Having dined with friends, I felt content".