eat dinner with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eat dinner with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of sharing a meal, specifically dinner, with someone else. Example: "I would love to eat dinner with you this weekend to catch up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"He wanted to eat dinner with us, watch TV".

The New Yorker

I declined, deciding to eat dinner with my parents instead.

The New Yorker

He was not an engaged parent: he didn't eat dinner with us or attend school plays.

The New Yorker

5 30 Usually around this time, I eat dinner with my mom and sister.

The New York Times

Mr. Miller used to eat dinner with them and got their children hooked on seltzer.

The New York Times

Every working parent, I'm sure, intends to eat dinner with the family more often.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Santana sometimes ate dinner with the Freidins.

The New Yorker

Writer tells about eating dinner with Berlusconi.

The New Yorker

On Saturdays Garrett and Nancy ate dinner with him.

The New Yorker

What about ever eating dinner with my family?

Harvard Business Review

Her family ate dinner with the lights off.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eat dinner with" to emphasize the act of sharing a meal in the evening, especially in contexts highlighting family time or social connection.

Common error

Avoid phrases like "eat dinner together with" as "together with" is redundant when "eat dinner with" already implies a shared experience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eat dinner with" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of consuming an evening meal in the company of others. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it highlights a shared dining experience.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

8%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Money

2%

Tech

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "eat dinner with" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe sharing an evening meal with others. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is used most frequently in news and media, but also appears in academic and lifestyle contexts. Alternatives such as "have dinner with" or "dine with" offer similar meanings. When using the phrase, avoid redundancy and focus on highlighting the shared experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have dinner with

Uses "have" instead of "eat", a common and interchangeable variation.

dine with

Employs a more formal verb, "dine", to convey the same meaning.

share a dinner with

Highlights the act of sharing a meal, adding a sense of communion.

eat supper with

Replaces "dinner" with "supper", implying a more casual evening meal.

break bread with

An idiomatic expression signifying sharing a meal in a friendly manner.

have a meal together

Focuses on the communal aspect of sharing any meal, not specifically dinner.

join for dinner

Indicates an invitation or acceptance to participate in a dinner setting.

eat an evening meal with

A more descriptive, less common way of saying "eat dinner with".

take dinner with

Uses "take" instead of "eat" to describe consuming dinner with someone.

attend dinner with

Implies a more formal or organized dinner event.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "eat dinner with"?

You can use alternatives like "have dinner with", "dine with", or "share a dinner with" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "eat dinner together with"?

While understandable, "eat dinner together with" can be redundant. "Eat dinner with" already implies a shared activity, making "together" unnecessary. It's best to stick with "eat dinner with" for conciseness.

What's the difference between "eat dinner with" and "have dinner with"?

The phrases "eat dinner with" and "have dinner with" are largely interchangeable. "Have dinner with" is perhaps slightly more common, but both are perfectly acceptable.

How does "eat dinner with" reflect on family relationships?

The act of frequently "eat dinner with" family members is often associated with stronger family bonds, improved communication, and positive influences on children's well-being.