at dinnertime

USAGE SUMMARY

"at dinnertime" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to the time of day when people typically have dinner. For example: "We like to spend time together with our family at dinnertime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Usually at dinnertime.

The New Yorker

200 covers, 250 covers at dinnertime.

The New York Times

Each was visited at dinnertime.

The New York Times - Food

That's at dinnertime, I should clarify.

The New York Times - Food

We especially miss him at dinnertime.

The New York Times

People weren't supposed to call at dinnertime.

The New Yorker

At dinnertime, five victories and one draw".

The Guardian - Sport

At dinnertime, the crew returns to its rooms.

The New York Times

And our children's friends, when they are around at dinnertime.

The New York Times - Magazine

Evangelical prayer is much more than mumbled grace at dinnertime.

The New York Times - Books

At dinnertime, the kids taunted me with riddles.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at dinnertime" to clearly indicate an event or activity that occurs during the typical dinner hour. This phrase helps set a specific timeframe for your readers.

Common error

Avoid using "at dinnertime" when referring to lunch or breakfast. Dinnertime specifically denotes the evening meal, so using it interchangeably with other meal times can cause confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at dinnertime" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs by specifying when an action occurs. Ludwig examples show it is used to indicate the period when dinner is typically eaten, answering the question "when?"

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

16%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at dinnertime" is a very common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to specify when something occurs during the typical dinner hour. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English. Its primary function is to act as an adverbial phrase of time, adding temporal context to various activities. While "at dinnertime" is versatile and can be found across different registers, it's predominantly used in news and media, as well as academic settings. To avoid confusion, use "at dinnertime" specifically for the evening meal and consider alternatives like "during dinner" or "around dinner time" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during dinner

This alternative focuses on the activity happening while dinner is in progress, instead of the specific time.

around dinner time

This phrase indicates a less precise time, approximating when dinner usually occurs.

when having dinner

This rephrasing emphasizes the act of eating dinner rather than the point in time.

over dinner

This suggests that something happens in the course of a dinner event.

at the dinner hour

This is a more formal way of referring to dinnertime.

during the evening meal

This is a slightly more descriptive and formal alternative.

while dining

This alternative shifts the focus to the act of dining.

during supper

This uses "supper" as a synonym for dinner, which can vary regionally in its meaning.

when we eat dinner

This version is a more explicit and less idiomatic way of indicating dinnertime.

at the family table

This alternative emphasize a meal shared with relatives, but it's not precise in time.

FAQs

How can I use "at dinnertime" in a sentence?

You can use "at dinnertime" to specify when an event takes place, such as "We always discuss our day "at dinnertime"" or "The phone always seems to ring "at dinnertime"".

What's the difference between "at dinner" and "at dinnertime"?

"At dinner" refers to the actual act of eating dinner, while "at dinnertime" indicates the general time period when dinner is usually eaten. You might say "We talked "at dinner"" or "The kids are expected to be home "at dinnertime"".

What phrases can I use instead of "at dinnertime"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "during dinner", "around dinner time", or "when having dinner" as alternatives to "at dinnertime".

Is it correct to say "in dinnertime" instead of "at dinnertime"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "dinnertime" is "at". "In dinnertime" is not standard English usage. Always use "at dinnertime".