held a dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held a dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of organizing or hosting a dinner event. Example: "Last Saturday, we held a dinner to celebrate our team's achievements over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The Free Burma Coalition held a dinner.

The Economist

He held a dinner party to solve the problem.

The New Yorker

I held a dinner party while my housemate was away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We heard you held a dinner for friends and family on your last night in Vancouver.

The New York Times - Sports

; May 8: The China Institute held a dinner honoring Oscar L. Tang at the Rainbow Room.

The New York Times

June 11: The "I Have a Dream" Foundation held a dinner at 583 Park Avenue.

The New York Times

At the opening, Gates held a dinner, serving "Japanese soul food" — sushi made from black-eyed peas.

The New Yorker

The outgoing president, Carlos Salinas, held a dinner that year for two dozen businessmen at $25m a plate.

The Economist

Six months later, my wife, that witty, witty woman, held a dinner party and offered some pleasantry about their quarrel.

The New Yorker

April 5: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University held a dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

April 15: The National Trust of Scotland Foundation U.S.A. held a dinner-dance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and formality of the event when choosing between "held a dinner" and alternative phrases like "hosted a dinner" or "threw a dinner party".

Common error

Avoid using "held a dinner" in highly informal situations where a more casual phrase like "had dinner" would be more suitable. While grammatically correct, "held a dinner" can sound overly formal in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held a dinner" functions as a verb phrase, where "held" is the past tense of the verb "hold", and "a dinner" serves as the direct object. Ludwig AI indicates that it is a standard and acceptable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "held a dinner" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of hosting or organizing a dinner event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, it can lean towards formality depending on the context. Alternatives such as "hosted a dinner" or "organized a dinner" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. When writing, consider the specific context and desired level of formality to ensure the most appropriate choice of words.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hosted a dinner

Replaces "held" with "hosted", emphasizing the act of being the host.

organized a dinner

Focuses on the planning and arrangement aspects of the dinner.

arranged a dinner

Similar to "organized a dinner", highlighting the planning aspect.

gave a dinner party

Uses "gave" instead of "held", suggesting a more formal or celebratory occasion.

threw a dinner party

Employs "threw" to convey a sense of informality or spontaneity.

put on a dinner

Indicates the effort and preparation involved in creating the dinner event.

conducted a dinner

Suggests a more formal or structured dinner event, possibly with a specific purpose.

presided over a dinner

Implies a position of authority or leadership during the dinner.

sponsored a dinner

Highlights the financial or logistical support provided for the dinner.

catered a dinner

Focuses on the provision of food and service for the dinner event.

FAQs

What is the best way to use "held a dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "held a dinner" to describe the act of hosting or organizing a dinner event. For example: "The organization "held a dinner" to raise funds for their cause."

What are some alternatives to "held a dinner"?

You can use alternatives such as "hosted a dinner", "organized a dinner", or "gave a dinner party" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "held a dinner" or "hold a dinner"?

"Held a dinner" is the past tense and is used to describe a dinner that already happened. "Hold a dinner" is the present tense, but is less common. A better phrasing for the present/future would be to say "host a dinner".

Is "held a dinner" formal or informal?

"Held a dinner" is generally considered to be neutral to slightly formal. It's appropriate for news reports, formal announcements, and business contexts. In very casual settings, alternatives like "had dinner" might be more suitable.