dining at restaurants

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dining at restaurants" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of eating meals in restaurants as a social or leisure activity. Example: "On weekends, we enjoy dining at restaurants to try new cuisines and spend time together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Clearly, chefs do not spend much time thinking about dining at restaurants other than their own.

The New York Times

To some, dining at restaurants is not a good use of time.

The New York Times

But then a dip in the two-lane road reveals something quite different: a tiny river town that bustles on weekends with tourists roaming antique shops, dining at restaurants and playing, weather permitting, in the Delaware River.

The New York Times - Travel

There's also a real-time component to the community, like the New Yorkers who hit the Madison Avenue store every Friday; the group that went to Las Vegas, dining at restaurants like the Olive Garden to save money for their higher shared purpose; and the Asian contingent that met in Singapore.

The New York Times

She is the host of a weekly half-hour cable television program that promotes weight loss and includes footage of her and the mayor dining at restaurants that have "heart-healthy" items like steamed vegetables, pasta vegetable salad and broiled swordfish on the menu.

The New York Times

The questionnaire included a semiquantitative food frequency list of food and beverage items, ethnic foods commonly consumed in the Houston area, an open-ended section, and dietary behaviours such as dining at restaurants and cooking methods.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

SOME diners might consider pairing dining at Restaurant X with a trip to the nearby Palisades Mall or with a weekend vacation in the mountains or the lake lands beyond.

The New York Times

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of dining at Restaurant Marc Forgione in Tribeca.

Huffington Post

Expect to rub elbows with the "farándula" of Chile (the jet-setters and artists) at this members-only club, which you can access for nightcaps as a non-member after dining at Restaurant 040 on the hotel's lower floor.

Huffington Post

Among enrolled case-patients, dates of dining at Restaurant A and dates of diarrhea onset were similar for culture-confirmed and probable cases (Figure 1).

Plosone

Among enrolled case-patients, dates of dining at Restaurant Chain B and dates of diarrhea onset were similar for culture-confirmed and probable cases (Figure 2).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add vividness, describe the restaurant's ambiance or the type of cuisine when mentioning "dining at restaurants".

Common error

While "dining at restaurants" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "eating out" or "restaurant meals" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dining at restaurants" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the activity of eating meals in a restaurant setting. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dining at restaurants" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered way to describe the activity of eating meals outside the home. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and the examples demonstrate its usage across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific studies. While it is not the most frequent expression, alternatives like "eating out" offer more concise options for informal settings. Be mindful of overusing the phrase in overly formal contexts and consider the specific nuance you wish to convey when choosing between "dining" and "eating" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eating at restaurants

This alternative uses a more common verb, "eating", instead of "dining", implying a less formal experience.

restaurant dining

This alternative reverses the order, emphasizing the type of dining experience.

having meals at restaurants

This option explicitly states the act of "having meals", focusing on the purpose of dining.

eating out

This is a shorter and more informal way of saying "dining at restaurants".

restaurant eating

Similar to "restaurant dining", this alternative emphasizes the location.

taking meals at restaurants

This phrase emphasizes the act of "taking" a meal, suggesting a planned activity.

patronizing restaurants

This alternative implies supporting restaurants as a customer.

frequenting restaurants

This suggests visiting restaurants regularly or often.

visiting restaurants for meals

This phrase is more descriptive and emphasizes the reason for visiting.

taking meals out

Implies acquiring meals outside the home.

FAQs

What's a simpler way to say "dining at restaurants"?

A simpler alternative is "eating out", which is more informal and widely understood.

Is there a more formal way to express "dining at restaurants"?

While "dining at restaurants" is generally acceptable, in a formal context, you might consider saying "restaurant dining" or "having meals at restaurants" depending on the emphasis you want to convey.

How can I make the phrase "dining at restaurants" more specific?

To be more specific, you can add details such as the type of restaurant (e.g., "dining at Italian restaurants"), the occasion (e.g., "dining at restaurants for celebrations"), or the frequency (e.g., "regularly dining at restaurants").

What's the difference between "dining at restaurants" and "eating at restaurants"?

The difference is subtle. "Dining at restaurants" often implies a more leisurely and perhaps sophisticated experience, whereas "eating at restaurants" is a more general term for consuming food at a restaurant.