dinner with friends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dinner with friends" is definitely correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate that the speaker or writer is planning to spend time with friends eating dinner or to talk about past experiences where they enjoyed dinner with friends. For example, "Last night was really fun - we had dinner with friends at our favorite restaurant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

DINNER WITH FRIENDS On Sunday nights, we usually have dinner with friends and we tend to go to Roberta's in Bushwick.

The New York Times

Off Broadway *+ "DINNER WITH FRIENDS".

The New York Times

DINNER WITH FRIENDS HBO, tomorrow night at 9 Adapted by Donald Margulies from his play.

The New York Times

A dinner with friends?

The New York Times

4: "Dinner With Friends".

The New York Times - Arts

Studying for exams trumped dinner with friends.

The New York Times - Sports

I got ready for dinner with friends.

The New York Times

"Dinner With Friends," drama by Donald Margulies.

The New York Times

DRAMA: Dinner With Friends, by Donald Margulies.

The New York Times

Friday Home late after dinner with friends.

The Guardian

"Dinner With Friends," Burgdorff Cultural Center, Maplewood.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase to set a casual and friendly tone in invitations or personal narratives.

Common error

Avoid using "dinner with friends" as a substitute for specific events. Instead of saying, "The party was just a dinner with friends", provide more details about the occasion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dinner with friends" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or preposition to describe a social activity centered around a meal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dinner with friends" is a very common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a social event centered around a meal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and understood. Predominantly found in news and media sources, this phrase conveys a sense of casual enjoyment and social connection. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "meal with companions" or "supper with pals", depending on the desired level of formality. When using "dinner with friends", specify frequency and the type of dinner to provide better context. While versatile, avoid using it as a vague substitute for specific events, and ensure your writing is clear and informative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dinner in the company of friends

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the social context of having dinner.

meal with companions

Replaces "dinner" with "meal" and "friends" with "companions", offering a more formal tone.

dining with companions

Uses the verb "dining" instead of the noun "dinner" and replaces "friends" with "companions".

supper with pals

Substitutes "dinner" with "supper" and "friends" with "pals", resulting in a more casual, informal expression.

evening meal with acquaintances

Replaces "dinner" with "evening meal" and "friends" with "acquaintances", creating a slightly more distant and formal tone.

a shared meal with close associates

Emphasizes the sharing aspect of the meal and replaces "friends" with "close associates", suggesting a professional or semi-formal context.

gathering for dinner with loved ones

Expands the phrase to emphasize the gathering aspect and replaces "friends" with "loved ones", highlighting intimacy.

a get-together for dinner with buddies

Adds the element of a "get-together" to highlight the social event and replaces "friends" with "buddies" for a more casual feel.

breaking bread with friends

Uses the idiom "breaking bread" to replace "dinner", focusing on the act of sharing a meal.

a convivial dinner party

Replaces the simple phrase with a more elaborate term emphasizing the social and enjoyable aspect of the dinner.

FAQs

How can I use "dinner with friends" in a sentence?

You can use "dinner with friends" to describe a social gathering centered around a meal, like "I'm looking forward to dinner with friends this weekend", or "We had a lovely dinner with friends last night".

What are some alternatives to "dinner with friends"?

Alternatives include "meal with companions", "supper with pals", or "evening meal with acquaintances", depending on the formality and context.

Is "dinner with friends" formal or informal?

"Dinner with friends" is generally considered an informal phrase, suitable for casual conversation and personal writing. More formal alternatives may be used in professional contexts.

What does "dinner with friends" typically imply?

It usually implies a relaxed and social gathering, centered around sharing a meal with people you enjoy spending time with. It suggests a friendly and casual atmosphere.