at supper

USAGE SUMMARY

"at supper" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used in informal settings to refer to the shared meal taken in the evening. For example: We talked about our day and laughed a lot at supper.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He described how he attended all his lessons, ate six pieces of toast at supper, and behaved like a gentleman.

The Guardian

Once again at supper.

The Economist

Main courses at supper are under £20.

The New York Times - Travel

"What did we talk about at supper?" Mr. Robertson asked.

The New York Times

"Where'd that cat come from?" Verl demanded at supper.

The New Yorker

He continued to excuse himself thus at supper.

The New Yorker

He also appeared at supper clubs and nightclubs.

The New York Times - Arts

At supper he reads the newspaper in silence.

The Guardian - Books

Porridge, vegetables and a boiled egg at supper would suffice.

The Guardian - Books

He stood up to make a speech at supper.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is also remarkable that apart from being used in low doses, anxiolytics were also frequently prescribed as a single daily dose 'at supper' or 'before going to bed' (48.6% of prescriptions).

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at supper" in informal contexts when referring to an evening meal, especially when describing events or conversations that occurred during that time. Consider its slightly old-fashioned feel and adjust your tone accordingly.

Common error

Avoid using "at supper" in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for alternatives like "during dinner" or "at the evening meal" to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

Prepositional phrases like "at supper" primarily function as adverbial modifiers, indicating the time or circumstances surrounding an action. This usage is supported by Ludwig's examples, where "at supper" specifies when certain events occurred.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at supper" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to indicate that something occurred during the evening meal. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, highlighting its prevalence in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it can lean towards slightly old-fashioned compared to the more modern "at dinner". When writing, consider your audience and the desired level of formality, opting for alternatives like "during dinner" in professional settings. The examples provided by Ludwig offer a broad understanding of its application, demonstrating its role in setting the scene and providing temporal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at dinnertime

Focuses on the time of dinner, less specific than "at supper".

while having supper

Emphasizes the action of eating supper.

over supper

Implies a conversation or activity happening during the meal.

when eating supper

Highlights the action of eating during supper.

during dinner

More formal and focuses specifically on the dinner mealtime.

during the evening meal

A more descriptive and formal alternative.

while dining

More formal and emphasizes the act of dining.

during the late meal

Focuses on the lateness and the meal itself.

in the evening

Broader time frame, not specifically related to a meal.

at the evening repast

A very formal and somewhat archaic alternative.

FAQs

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

"At supper" is generally used to indicate when something occurred during the evening meal. For example: "We discussed the day's events "at supper"."

What's a more formal way to say "at supper"?

Alternatives such as "during dinner" or "during the evening meal" can be used in more formal settings to convey the same meaning as "at supper".

Is "at supper" commonly used in modern English?

While "at supper" is still used, it might sound slightly old-fashioned to some. It is more common to use "at dinner" in contemporary English.

What is the difference between "at supper" and "at dinner"?

The terms are largely interchangeable, but "supper" can sometimes imply a lighter or more informal meal than "dinner", especially in certain regional dialects.