had dinner with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had dinner with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of sharing a meal, typically in a social context, with someone. Example: "Last night, I had dinner with my old friend from college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sauer had dinner with Kadyrov several times.

The New Yorker

Then she had dinner with Mr. Heywood.

The New York Times

But she had dinner with him twice.

The New York Times - Style

I had dinner with him once.

The Guardian - Film

He has had dinner with Bob Torricelli.

The New York Times

Fortson had dinner with Knicks officials.

The New York Times - Sports

My wife had dinner with the kids.

The New York Times

I had dinner with Jackie once.

The Guardian

We had dinner with another couple at an elegant restaurant.

The New York Times

"I had dinner with them once a week," Gelb says.

The New Yorker

That evening, I had dinner with McLean and Samuels.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "dined with" or "shared a meal with" to add variety to your writing and avoid repetition.

Common error

While "had dinner with" is perfectly acceptable in many situations, avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "dined with" or "attended a dinner with" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had dinner with" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a past action of sharing a meal with someone. Ludwig shows that this construction is common across various contexts, affirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had dinner with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe sharing a meal with someone. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While suitable for most contexts, consider more formal alternatives like "dined with" for academic or professional writing. The phrase primarily functions to convey information about a social activity and implies a relationship with the person mentioned. It's most commonly found in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ate dinner with

A more straightforward and less stylized way of saying the same thing.

dined with

Emphasizes a more formal or elegant dining experience.

took dinner with

Similar in meaning but less common in modern usage.

shared a meal with

Highlights the act of sharing food rather than just the social aspect.

joined for dinner with

Indicates participation in an existing dinner arrangement.

broke bread with

Evokes a sense of camaraderie and shared experience, potentially more intimate.

had supper with

Uses 'supper' as a synonym for dinner, more common in some regions or dialects.

was at dinner with

Focuses on being present at the dinner, less about the act of eating.

supped with

Uses 'supped' as a slightly archaic or literary alternative to 'dined'.

feasted with

Suggests a more elaborate and celebratory meal.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "had dinner with"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "dined with" or "attended a dinner with".

Is there a difference between "had dinner with" and "ate dinner with"?

While both are grammatically correct and convey the same basic meaning, "had dinner with" emphasizes the social interaction, while "ate dinner with" focuses more on the act of eating.

Can I use "had supper with" instead of "had dinner with"?

Yes, "had supper with" is a valid alternative, although "supper" is more commonly used in certain regions or to refer to a lighter evening meal.

What are some informal alternatives to "had dinner with"?

In informal contexts, you could simply say "grabbed dinner with" or "got dinner with" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.