dine out

USAGE SUMMARY

"dine out" is correct and usable in written English.
Generally, it means to eat a meal in a restaurant, outside of one's own home. For example, "We decided to dine out at a new Italian restaurant in town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Without taste, why dine out?

The New York Times - Health

Vegetarians can dine out in style, too.

The New York Times - Travel

Sometimes I dine out with my interviewees.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Pauline Frommer, East Village Cannot afford to dine out anymore.

The New York Times

They're more likely to dine out in their neighborhood.

The New York Times

He would dine out on that for a month".

The New Yorker

But this is hardly an increase to dine out on.

The Guardian

Not at the Table My wife and I dine out with friends.

The New York Times

Suddenly, I had money to dine out, to buy a new guitar, to visit New York.

The New York Times

AS a child, I loved to dine out with my parents in San Francisco's Chinatown.

The New York Times

You may have eaten it, especially if you dine out often.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dine out" when you want to emphasize the act of eating at a restaurant or other public eating place, rather than eating at home. This implies a social or recreational activity.

Common error

Avoid using "dine out" in overly formal or business writing where more precise language might be preferred. For example, instead of "The company will dine out to celebrate", consider "The company will host a celebratory dinner at a restaurant".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dine out" is as a phrasal verb, where "dine" acts as the verb and "out" as a particle. This combination functions intransitively, describing the action of eating a meal outside of one's home. Ludwig confirms this correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dine out" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb that describes the act of eating a meal at a restaurant or other public place, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, lifestyle, and personal narratives. While versatile, "dine out" is generally neutral in register and might not be suitable for overly formal or highly specific business communication. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that while other expressions exist, this verb offers a simple, clear way to express where someone ate. Consider using alternatives like "eat at a restaurant" or "go out for dinner" for variety. Be mindful of using precise alternatives in formal writing. You can find a very similar meaning with "eating out" or "dining out".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eat at a restaurant

Focuses on the location of eating, specifying a restaurant.

have a meal out

Uses "meal" to specify the type of eating event.

go out for dinner

Specifies dinner as the meal being eaten and the action of going out.

grab a bite to eat elsewhere

Indicates a quick and casual meal in a location different from the home.

frequent restaurants

Implies dining at restaurants regularly.

take a meal in a restaurant

Emphasizes the action of consuming food, specifying a restaurant.

patronize eateries

Uses a more formal tone to describe supporting local eating establishments.

take out to eat

Emphasizes the action of taking something out to eat elsewhere, in a different place.

sup outside the home

Uses a less common term 'sup' for eating and emphasizes the location.

dine elsewhere

Short and versatile, replacing 'out' with 'elsewhere' to indicate eating in a different location.

FAQs

What does "dine out" mean?

"Dine out" means to eat a meal at a restaurant or other public place, rather than at home.

What are some alternatives to "dine out"?

You can use alternatives like "eat at a restaurant", "have a meal out", or "go out for dinner" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "dining out" instead of "dine out"?

"Dining out" refers to the activity in general (e.g., "Dining out is a popular pastime"), while "dine out" is a verb phrase describing the action of eating at a restaurant (e.g., "We should dine out tonight").

How can I use "dine out" in a sentence?

You can say, "We decided to dine out because we didn't feel like cooking", or "They often dine out on weekends".