an early dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an early dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a meal that is served or eaten earlier than the usual dinner time. Example: "We decided to have an early dinner to make sure we had enough time to prepare for the evening event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Food

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

One unpacks and has an early dinner.

The New York Times - Magazine

KIDS' CHOICE Sunday night is an early dinner.

The New York Times

I'm now leaning toward Wolfgang's for an early dinner.

The New York Times - Food

It can easily double as an early dinner.

The New York Times - Travel

Time: A Friday evening, after an early dinner.

The New York Times

I like to go to Elizabeth's for an early dinner before the show.

The New York Times

A few hours later, we'd wake up, go out for an early dinner.

The New York Times

I had an early dinner in Le Festival, the hotel restaurant.

The New York Times - Travel

As if on cue, a couple finishing an early dinner headed toward the door.

The New York Times

Then she trudged, happily, through a snowstorm for an early dinner at Joe Allen.

The New Yorker

We headed to the Atlantic Edge Restaurant at Cheeca Lodge for an early dinner.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning events, specify "an early dinner" followed by the time to avoid ambiguity. For example: "Let's have an early dinner at 5:00 PM before the movie."

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "Let's do an early dinner" without specifying the time. What one person considers early, another may consider standard dining time. Always clarify the intended hour.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an early dinner" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig shows examples where it indicates a specific mealtime choice, such as "I had an early dinner in Le Festival, the hotel restaurant."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Travel

17%

Food

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an early dinner" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a dinner consumed before the typical evening mealtime. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase is versatile, appearing frequently in News & Media, Travel, and Food contexts. While alternatives like "an early supper" exist, specifying the actual time is crucial for clarity. Remember, effective communication involves avoiding ambiguity, and "an early dinner" is no exception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an early supper

Replaces "dinner" with "supper", which can sometimes imply a lighter or more informal evening meal. The timing remains early.

an early meal

A more general term that could refer to any meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) taken earlier than usual. Less specific than "an early dinner".

dinner beforehand

Indicates a dinner that takes place before a specific event or time. Focuses on the temporal relation rather than the usual dinner time.

an ahead-of-time dinner

Emphasizes the anticipation and planning of a dinner scheduled before the standard time.

a pre-dinner meal

Highlights that the meal is consumed right before a planned dinner, possibly implying a smaller portion to avoid overeating.

an untimely dinner

Suggests the dinner is outside of the regular eating time, with a negative connotation about the unusual schedule.

a premature dinner

Similar to "untimely", implies the dinner is occurring before the proper or expected time.

a light dinner

Indicates a smaller meal, though not necessarily at an earlier time. Focuses on the quantity of food rather than the time.

a quick dinner

Emphasizes the speed of the meal rather than the timing. May or may not be earlier than usual.

a hasty dinner

Implies a dinner consumed rapidly, possibly due to time constraints. Does not necessarily indicate an early timing.

FAQs

How do you use "an early dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "an early dinner" to refer to a meal eaten before the typical dinner time. For example, "We decided to have "an early dinner" so we could attend the concert."

What's a synonym for "an early dinner"?

A synonym for "an early dinner" is "an early supper". While "supper" can sometimes imply a lighter or more informal evening meal, the main point is that the timing is before the usual dinner hour.

Is it better to say "early dinner" or "an early dinner"?

Both "early dinner" and "an early dinner" are grammatically correct. Using the article "an" depends on the context of the sentence. "An early dinner" is typically used when you're referring to a specific instance or event.

What's the difference between "an early dinner" and "a late lunch"?

"An early dinner" refers to eating dinner sooner than the typical dinner time, while "a late lunch" means having lunch later than usual. The difference lies in which meal's timing is being adjusted.