throughout the dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "throughout the dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs continuously or repeatedly during the duration of a dinner event. Example: "The conversation flowed easily throughout the dinner, with everyone sharing stories and laughter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"Chinese doctors at my table smoked furiously throughout the dinner," he said.

The New York Times - Food

Throughout the dinner, the waiter continually refilled the water glasses from a giant silver pitcher shaped like a tiger.

The New Yorker

The pork was scrumptious and the mood jolly, but throughout the dinner meeting there was an undertow of not-too-distant domestic disaster.

The Washington Post

But since the opening of En Japanese Brasserie in the West Village in October, New Yorkers have been able to savor tofu that is made throughout the dinner service, coming out of the kitchen every 90 minutes.

The New York Times - Food

And while most Indian and Chinese places limit their buffets to weekday lunch or weekend brunch, Jaipore keeps its tables open throughout the dinner hour on Sundays, and Royal Palace offers dinner buffet, Mondays through Thursdays.

The New York Times

She shot them daggers throughout the dinner, but then effortlessly and without notes delivered a gracious speech about the nature of collaborative performance and touched on the race, class and social issues in "The Help," and on its status as the lone film in the Oscar race with a predominantly female cast.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Mr. Norton presented himself as the Actor throughout much of the dinner.

The New York Times

Anderson's palpable unease throughout the Dimmond dinner party, as Hannibal tried to get her more involved in his hobby, was beautifully performed.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Throughout the whole dinner she did not speak to us again".

Wikipedia

Squad members, team management and family members of the players were present at the dinner and throughout the night.

The Guardian - Sport

For the black-tie-clad guests there will be a champagne reception before the dinner and dancing throughout the evening to Clark Keene's music.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "throughout the dinner" to emphasize that an action or state continued for the entire duration of the meal, not just a portion of it. For example, "The debate continued throughout the dinner, becoming quite heated by dessert."

Common error

Avoid using "throughout the dinner" when you mean a specific moment during the dinner. For instance, instead of "He spilled wine throughout the dinner", specify "He spilled wine during the main course."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "throughout the dinner" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating the time during which an action occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and the examples show it describing events that span the entire meal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "throughout the dinner" is a grammatically sound and valid adverbial phrase used to indicate that an action or event occurred continuously or repeatedly during the entire duration of a dinner. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and it's commonly found in news and media contexts. While "during the dinner" is a more concise alternative, "throughout the dinner" emphasizes the duration of the activity. Use this phrase to highlight events that spanned the whole meal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the dinner

This alternative is more concise, replacing "throughout" with "during" while maintaining the same temporal context.

over the course of the dinner

This alternative emphasizes the duration of the dinner as the time span.

during the entirety of the dinner

This phrase highlights the whole duration of the dinner event.

for the duration of the dinner

This alternative uses a more formal tone to specify the length of the dinner.

while the dinner was in progress

This option uses a more descriptive, less direct construction.

all through the dinner

A more informal phrasing with a similar meaning.

from start to finish of the dinner

This alternative highlights the entire period from the beginning to the end.

during the meal

This alternative is a more general term, replacing "dinner" with "meal".

at the dinner table

This option focuses on the location, rather than the time.

while dining

This is a more concise and formal alternative, implying the act of eating dinner.

FAQs

How can I use "throughout the dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "throughout the dinner" to describe actions or events that occur continuously or repeatedly during the entire duration of a dinner, as in "The conversation was lively "throughout the dinner"."

What are some alternatives to saying "throughout the dinner"?

Alternatives include phrases like "during the dinner", "over the course of the dinner", or "during the meal", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "during the dinner" instead of "throughout the dinner"?

Yes, "during the dinner" is a correct and often more concise alternative to ""throughout the dinner"". The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the continuous nature of something.

What's the difference between "during the dinner" and "throughout the dinner"?

"During the dinner" simply indicates that something happened at some point during the meal. "Throughout the dinner" suggests that it happened continuously or repeatedly from start to finish.