dinner is served

USAGE SUMMARY

"dinner is served" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is most often used to indicate that food is ready to be eaten. For example, you might write, "Grandma was beaming proudly when she declared, 'dinner is served!' Her homemade lasagna smelled delicious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Food

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Dinner is served here too.

Independent

6 P.M.​ Dinner is served.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sunday dinner is served.

The New York Times

Dinner is served 6.30-11pm eveningvevening

Independent

"Dinner is served!" he announces.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Lunch, or a light dinner, is served.

The Washington Post

Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Then dinner was served.

The New York Times

Dinner was served until 4am.

The Economist

Dinner was served.

The New Yorker

During our history lesson, dinner was served.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dinner is served" to formally announce that a meal is ready, especially in a restaurant or formal setting. Be mindful of the tone; it implies a degree of ceremony.

Common error

Avoid using "dinner is served" in casual settings like family dinners. A simpler phrase like "dinner's ready" is more appropriate for everyday use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dinner is served" functions primarily as a declarative statement. It indicates that the meal is ready to be eaten and typically signals the beginning of the dining experience. Ludwig AI also confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Travel

16%

Food

11%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dinner is served" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to announce that a meal is ready. According to Ludwig AI, it's a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English. As demonstrated through many examples, including those from authoritative sources, "dinner is served" finds its place in a variety of contexts, particularly in news, travel, and food-related content. Though versatile, bear in mind that this expression lends itself best to formal or neutrally-toned scenarios. More casual options like "dinner is ready" or "let's eat" may be better suited for informal conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Dinner is ready

This alternative is a more straightforward way of saying that dinner is available.

Let's eat

This alternative is a direct invitation to begin eating.

It's time to eat

This alternative is a simple and universal way to indicate that eating should commence.

Your dinner awaits

This alternative is a slightly more elegant and suggestive way of saying that dinner is ready.

The meal is prepared

This alternative is a more formal way of stating that the meal preparation is complete.

Food's on the table

This alternative is a casual way of saying dinner is ready, implying it is already placed on the table.

Come and get it

This alternative is an informal and direct way to announce that dinner is ready.

The table is set and the food is ready

This alternative is a more descriptive way of announcing that it is time to eat.

The repast is ready

This alternative is a more archaic and formal way to announce that dinner is available.

Grub's up

This alternative is a very informal, almost slang, way to say dinner is ready.

FAQs

How can I use "dinner is served" in a sentence?

You can use "dinner is served" to announce that the meal is ready. For example, "The butler announced, 'Dinner is served,' and the guests proceeded to the dining room."

What's a more casual way to say "dinner is served"?

Alternatives include "dinner is ready", "let's eat", or "food's on the table".

In what settings is "dinner is served" most appropriate?

"Dinner is served" is best suited for formal settings like restaurants, banquets, or upscale dining environments where a sense of ceremony is desired.

Is it grammatically correct to say "dinner was served"?

Yes, "dinner was served" indicates that the act of serving dinner has already occurred. It might be used when describing a past event, for instance, "Dinner was served promptly at 7 p.m."