around meal time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around meal time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the period close to when meals are typically eaten, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Example: "I usually feel more energetic around meal time, especially when I know a delicious dinner is being prepared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

There was also an unfortunate incident around meal time when Gulliver aggravated an old knee injury while trying to squeeze with his son into a single seat space so a trolley could pass.

The Economist

Or things around meal time.

TechCrunch

There'€™s also a bit of downtime around meal time, between each set of sessions, and late at night.

Duke University

I didn't learn about Christianity from the text books; the pattern of faith was that the door was always open for whoever wanted to come by--and they always seemed to show up around meal time.

Huffington Post

The rapid onset of action of insulin lispro and the other analogs allows their injection around meal time, making them safer and easier to use in comparison with human regular insulin.

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Family life turns around meal times: days are spent preparing and eating in an enjoyable way I never managed to share.

The Guardian - Books

"With absolutely nothing to do, our days were structured around meal times.

The Guardian

The seven person crew averaged 202 distinct water draws a day (standard deviation 34) with high water use periods focusing around meal times.

Advances in Space Research

Wellness consultant, Emily Reed, has found that the structure around meal times supports her to stay in balance.

Forbes

The air smells like butter and seasonings around meal times, a reminder that we are in a cozy old house.

Forbes

Research shows that smokers have peak cravings during certain times, usually in the morning when smokers first wake up, around meal times, and then in the evening.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling activities, consider using "around meal time" to ensure they don't conflict with eating schedules, promoting better adherence and comfort.

Common error

Avoid using "around meal time" when you need to specify a particular meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner). "Around meal time" indicates a general timeframe, not a precise moment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around meal time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the time frame in which an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "around meal time" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate a timeframe near when a meal is typically consumed. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, from news articles to casual conversation. While relatively uncommon, it serves the purpose of providing a general temporal reference point. Consider alternatives like "during mealtime" or "near mealtime" for similar meanings. When writing, ensure you're not aiming for specifics, but instead conveying a general period.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during mealtime

Replaces "around" with "during", focusing on the meal period itself.

near mealtime

Substitutes "around" with "near", indicating proximity in time to the meal.

at mealtime

Uses "at" to specify the exact time when a meal is typically eaten.

close to mealtime

Emphasizes temporal proximity using "close to" instead of "around".

in proximity to mealtime

Formally expresses the closeness in time to the meal period.

surrounding the meal

Shifts focus slightly to the activities or events happening alongside the meal itself.

before or after the meal

Broadens the timeframe to include both pre-meal and post-meal periods.

meal preparation time

Focuses specifically on the time spent preparing the meal.

the time of eating

General alternative indicating the moment someone is eating a meal.

when meals are served

Shifts the focus to the act of serving meals, rather than the time period.

FAQs

How can I use "around meal time" in a sentence?

You can use "around meal time" to indicate a period close to when meals are typically eaten. For example, "The baby gets fussy around meal time because he knows food is coming."

What does "around meal time" mean?

"Around meal time" refers to the period close to when a meal, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner, is usually consumed. It doesn't specify the exact moment but rather the general timeframe.

What can I say instead of "around meal time"?

You can use alternatives like "during mealtime", "near mealtime", or "at mealtime" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "at around meal time"?

While "at meal time" and "around meal time" are both correct, combining them as "at around meal time" can sound redundant. It's better to choose one or the other for clarity.