dinner is ready

USAGE SUMMARY

"dinner is ready" is a perfectly grammatical and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to inform someone that the food has been prepared and is ready to be served. For example: "Mom, dinner is ready - let's eat!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

"Dinner is ready".

The New York Times - Travel

"Our dinner is ready," he says instead.

The New Yorker

Parents whistle for their children when dinner is ready.

The New York Times

If I don't Twitter to let my children know dinner is ready, I'm hopelessly old-fashioned.

The New York Times

Sometimes, Mr. Capps will send an instant message to signal when dinner is ready.

The New York Times

I have to make sure that their lunch is ready, their dinner is ready".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

When will dinner be ready?

The New York Times - Travel

When dinner was ready, she served it.

The New Yorker

At 8 45, dinner was ready.

The New York Times - Style

But hey: dinner's ready soon.

The Guardian - Film

After a quick simmer, my dinner was ready.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dinner is ready", consider your audience and the formality of the situation. In casual settings, shorter alternatives like "dinner's up" might be more appropriate. In formal settings consider alternatives like "supper is served".

Common error

While "dinner is ready" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it repetitively in writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "the meal is prepared" or "time to eat" to make your writing more engaging and less monotonous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dinner is ready" functions as a statement, specifically an announcement. It informs the listener or reader that the meal preparation is complete and it is time to eat. Ludwig confirms its proper grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dinner is ready" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to announce that a meal is prepared and ready to be eaten. As highlighted by Ludwig, it serves as a call to action, inviting individuals to partake in the meal. While the phrase itself is neutral, its formality can be adjusted using synonyms to better suit different contexts, ranging from casual family dinners to more formal gatherings. Be mindful of the potential for overuse and consider varying your language with alternatives such as "the meal is prepared" or "supper is served".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Dinner's up

A shorter, more colloquial version of “dinner is ready”.

Supper is served

Replaces “dinner” with “supper”, often used in more formal or traditional settings.

Time to eat

A simple and direct way to announce that it's time for a meal.

Let's eat

A direct invitation to start eating, suitable for casual settings.

The meal is prepared

Focuses on the action of preparing the meal, suitable for more formal contexts.

The food is on the table

Highlights the location of the food, implying it is ready to be eaten.

Food's on

An informal and concise way to announce that the food is ready.

The table is set

Focuses on the arrangement of the table, suggesting that everything is prepared for the meal.

Come and get it

A casual and often playful way to call people to the table.

Grub's ready

Uses “grub” as a synonym for food, adding a rustic or informal tone.

FAQs

How can I announce dinner in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, consider using phrases such as "supper is served" or "the meal is prepared" instead of the more casual "dinner is ready".

What are some informal ways to say dinner is ready?

For informal situations, you can use alternatives like "food's on", "dinner's up", or "come and get it".

Is there a difference between saying "dinner is ready" and "dinner's ready"?

The phrase "dinner's ready" is a contraction of "dinner is ready". Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning, but "dinner's ready" is slightly more informal.

What is a more descriptive way to say dinner is ready?

You can provide more detail by saying "the food is on the table" or "everything is ready for dinner", which gives additional information about the meal's status.