have dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

"have dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a meal eaten in the evening. For example, "Tonight we will have dinner at 7 o'clock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We could have dinner".

The New Yorker

We have dinner.

The New York Times - Sports

"We go out, have dinner.

The New York Times - Sports

We have dinner and receptions.

The New York Times

I want to have dinner.

Independent

Then we'd have dinner.

The Washington Post

Have dinner with him.

The New York Times - Style

Men have dinner.

The New York Times

"Let's go have dinner".

The New York Times

Sometimes we'd have dinner.

The Guardian

Please have dinner waiting?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have dinner" when referring to the act of eating the main evening meal, whether at home or in a restaurant. It is suitable for most contexts.

Common error

While acceptable in most situations, consider using a more refined verb like "dine" in highly formal writing, such as academic papers or business reports. This can elevate the tone and sophistication of your prose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have dinner" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "have" acts as an auxiliary verb and "dinner" is a noun. It is commonly used to express the action of eating the evening meal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have dinner" is a common and correct English phrase used to describe the act of eating the evening meal. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. While suitable for most situations, more formal alternatives like ""dine"" may be preferred in certain contexts. It's important to note that the sources are highly authoritative, and the usage is consistent. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eat dinner

A more direct and literal way to describe the action of eating dinner.

have supper

Synonymous with "have dinner", although "supper" might be considered more old-fashioned or regional.

take dinner

Similar to "eat dinner", but slightly less common.

go to dinner

Implies going to a specific location or event to have dinner.

dine

A more formal and concise way of saying "have dinner".

enjoy dinner

Emphasizes the pleasurable aspect of eating dinner.

attend dinner

Similar to "go to dinner", but often suggests a more formal occasion.

sit down to dinner

Focuses on the act of sitting down to eat, often implying a more formal or traditional setting.

share a meal

A broader term that encompasses having dinner, but also includes other meals.

break bread

A more figurative and communal way of referring to sharing a meal, including dinner.

FAQs

How to use "have dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "have dinner" in a sentence to describe the act of eating the evening meal, such as, "We will "have dinner" at 7 PM tonight" or "Did you "have dinner" yet?".

What can I say instead of "have dinner"?

You can use alternatives like "eat dinner", "dine", or "have supper" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have dinner" or "eat dinner"?

Both ""have dinner"" and ""eat dinner"" are correct and widely used. "Have dinner" is slightly more common in everyday conversation.

What's the difference between "have dinner" and "dine"?

"Have dinner" is a general term for eating the evening meal, while ""dine"" is a more formal and sophisticated alternative.