for dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

'for dinner' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You could use it when referring to a meal that has been prepared for an evening meal, typically after 5 pm. Example: I am making roasted vegetables and grilled salmon for dinner tonight.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So what's for dinner?

Independent

And for dinner: beer.

The New York Times - Food

It's what's for dinner".

The New York Times

Reservations recommended for dinner.

The New York Times

It's pie for dinner.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not hungry for dinner?

The New York Times

Open nightly for dinner.

The New Yorker

Open daily for dinner.

The New Yorker

What's for dinner?

The New York Times

Dolphin for dinner?

The New York Times

Call for dinner reservations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for dinner" to specify a purpose or plan. For example, "I bought this wine for dinner" clarifies the wine's intended use.

Common error

Avoid using "for dinner" when the context is already clear. Overusing it can sound unnatural. For example, instead of "We are having pasta for dinner tonight", simply say "We are having pasta tonight" if the context already indicates dinner.

Linguistic Context

"For dinner" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It specifies the purpose or context related to the evening meal. Ludwig shows this usage is consistent across various sentences, indicating its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for dinner" is a prepositional phrase used to specify the purpose or context related to the evening meal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. To avoid redundancy, use it only when the context is not already clear. Alternatives include "for the evening meal". Be mindful of differentiating its usage from similar phrases like "at dinner", and remember that its register is generally neutral. As shown in the examples, "for dinner" is most effective when adding clarity to discussions or plans regarding the evening meal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to have for dinner

Specifies the intention of consuming something during the dinner meal.

as a dinner option

Highlights a possible choice or selection for the dinner meal.

for the evening meal

Replaces "dinner" with a more descriptive term about the meal's timing.

to eat at dinner

Focuses on the action of eating during the specified mealtime.

intended for dinner

Emphasizes the planned use of something specifically for the dinner meal.

what to have for supper

Replaces "dinner" with "supper", which is a similar term.

concerning dinner

Indicates the topic or subject is about dinner.

in relation to dinner

Connects the phrase to something else by indicating it is related to dinner.

regarding the dinner plans

Specifically refers to the arrangement of dinner.

with respect to dinner

Connects the statement to dinner in a respectful or considerate manner.

FAQs

How can I use "for dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "for dinner" to specify the intended meal when discussing food or plans, such as "What are we having "for dinner" tonight?" or "I'm preparing a special dish "for dinner"".

What are some alternatives to using "for dinner"?

Alternatives include "for the evening meal" or specifying a time, like "What are we having at 7 PM?" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify "for dinner" when talking about evening meals?

No, it's not always necessary. If the context already makes it clear you are talking about the evening, you can simply say, "What are we having tonight?" However, "for dinner" adds clarity when the context might be ambiguous.

What's the difference between saying "for dinner" and "at dinner"?

"For dinner" indicates the purpose or intention related to the meal, while "at dinner" refers to something happening during the meal itself. For example, "I made a reservation "for dinner"" versus "We had a lively conversation "at dinner"".