at meal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at meal" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used in contexts discussing activities or behaviors that occur during a meal, but it is more typical to use "at mealtime" or "during a meal." Example: "We always have interesting conversations at meal."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some have ritual, bake bread and share it at meal times together.

WikiHow

Évora slows down at meal times, and you should too.

The New York Times - Travel

Pupils from all three schools mingle at meal times.

The Guardian

Winston S. Churchill necessitates the use of alcoholic spirits especially at meal times".

The New York Times - Arts

The kitchen became a gathering place at meal times, drawing ordinary workers and Princeton presidents.

Princeton University

Put your devices away while driving, at meal times and during family time.

The Washington Post

We catch them once at meal time and later while they're praying.

The New York Times

On average, couriers take home more than the London living wage at meal times, UberEats said.

The Guardian - Tech

At meal times, my cup ran over: there were just too many pleasant places to sit.

The New York Times - Travel

Ad libitum energy intake was lower when the meal was eaten slowly, and satiety was higher at meal completion.

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Whether it comes to being tidy or not sharing food at meal times, the public love to speculate.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer alternatives like "during mealtime" or "while eating" to improve readability and naturalness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "at meal" when describing activities related to eating. It's often more precise to use "during mealtime" or specify the meal, such as "at breakfast" or "during dinner".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at meal" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, indicating a time or occasion when something occurs. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not as common as alternatives like "at mealtime" or "during the meal".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at meal" isn't strictly incorrect, it is considered awkward and infrequently used in contemporary English. Ludwig AI suggests that clearer and more common alternatives such as "at mealtime" or "during the meal" are generally preferred to enhance clarity and naturalness. The phrase serves to specify the timing of an event in relation to eating, but its infrequent usage and lack of strong contextual presence across varied sources suggest opting for alternatives to improve writing effectiveness. Therefore, it is advisable to use other options to clearly convey the intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the meal

Replaces 'at' with 'during' for a more common and natural flow, focusing on the time period.

at mealtime

Combines 'meal' and 'time' into a single word to specify the occasion more clearly.

while eating

Focuses on the action of eating, replacing 'meal' with the gerund 'eating'.

during dinner

Specifies a particular meal occasion, replacing the generic 'meal' with 'dinner'.

over lunch

Suggests an informal meal setting, replacing the generic 'meal' with 'lunch' and 'at' with 'over'.

during supper

Specifies 'supper' instead of 'meal', common in some dialects.

at the table

Focuses on the location where the meal is taken rather than the meal itself.

at breakfast

Specifies the meal as breakfast instead of meal

when dining

Focuses on the act of dining rather than a specific meal instance

while having a meal

Uses a more descriptive phrase that emphasizes the action of having a meal.

FAQs

What's a better alternative to using "at meal"?

Instead of "at meal", consider using phrases like "at mealtime", "during the meal", or specifying the particular meal, such as "at lunch" or "during dinner" for clarity.

Is it grammatically incorrect to say "at meal"?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "at meal" sounds awkward and is not commonly used in contemporary English. Alternatives like "at mealtime" or "during the meal" are preferred.

When can I use "at meal" in a sentence?

You can use "at meal" when you are referring to something that happens during a meal occasion, but it is more common and clearer to say "at mealtime" or "during the meal".

How does "at meal" compare to "during a meal" in terms of formality?

"During a meal" is generally more formal and widely accepted compared to "at meal", which can sound less natural. Both aim to describe an event that occurs while eating, but "during a meal" is often preferred in formal writing.