tonight's dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tonight's dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the meal that will be served or eaten later in the evening. Example: "I'm looking forward to tonight's dinner; I heard we're having lasagna."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

These things don't seem quite so important when you're preoccupied with figuring out where tonight's dinner's coming from.

Vice

It's filled with tonight's dinner and the red wine she's been quaffing.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Tonight's dinner," he said.

The Guardian - Travel

Their teams who got caught up in the Libor scandal agreed to pay for tonight's dinner.

The New York Times

"They're coming in for a fresh produce transaction, for tonight's dinner transaction.

The New York Times

Even the title is an ironic allusion to the inertial power of the mundane — leftovers, tonight's dinner as tomorrow's lunch.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Surely it's not just to post photos of last night's dinner on Facebook.

Huffington Post

While it's easy to forget what was on last Sunday night's dinner menu, some events, like your own wedding or a close encounter with a grizzly bear, become permanently engraved in your mind.

Science Magazine

Tomorrow night's dinner.

The New York Times

You don't want last night's dinner smell".

The New York Times

Everything at the buffet looks left over from last night's dinner.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase in writing, ensure it is clear who is having the dinner. If referring to a shared meal, consider specifying 'our' or 'the family's' tonight's dinner.

Common error

Avoid using "tonight's dinner" when simply referring to the concept of dinner in general. Instead of "tonight's dinner is important", use "dinner is important" to avoid unnecessary possessiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tonight's dinner" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as a possessive, indicating that the dinner belongs to or is associated with the current evening. Ludwig examples confirm its role in specifying a particular meal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Wiki

2%

Huffington Post

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tonight's dinner" is a common and grammatically correct possessive noun phrase used to refer to the meal planned or expected for the current evening. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is most frequently used in news and media contexts. When using "tonight's dinner", ensure clarity and avoid unnecessary possessiveness. Related phrases offer alternatives depending on the desired emphasis, such as "dinner for tonight" or "the evening meal".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dinner for tonight

Reorders the words, emphasizing the purpose of the dinner rather than the time.

the evening meal

More formal and general, referring to the meal consumed in the evening.

the supper tonight

Uses a synonym for dinner, which can sound slightly old-fashioned depending on the region.

what's for dinner tonight

Focuses on the planning or anticipation of the meal.

the planned meal

Emphasizes that the dinner is prearranged or prepared.

our dinner plans

Focuses on the intentions or arrangements for the dinner.

the evening's cuisine

Refers specifically to the style or quality of the food.

the repast tonight

A more formal and less common synonym for dinner.

this evening's fare

Refers to the food served at the dinner.

the table tonight

Highlights the setting and communal aspect of the dinner.

FAQs

How can I use "tonight's dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "tonight's dinner" to refer to the meal you will have later in the evening. For instance, "I am really looking forward to "tonight's dinner"."

What's a synonym for "tonight's dinner"?

Alternatives include "dinner for tonight" or "the evening meal", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "dinner of tonight" instead of "tonight's dinner"?

While "dinner of tonight" might be understood, it's not grammatically standard or commonly used. "Tonight's dinner" is the idiomatic and correct way to express it.

What is the difference between "tonight's dinner" and "last night's dinner"?

"Tonight's dinner" refers to a meal that will be eaten later in the current day, while "last night's dinner" refers to a meal that was eaten the previous evening.