until dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame leading up to the meal of dinner. Example: "I will be working on my project until dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Until dinner.

The Guardian - Travel

"They don't bathe until dinner".

The New York Times

That and some salad, you're set until dinner.

The New York Times - Food

Lasting until dinner was no longer an issue.

The New York Times - Travel

After breakfast I won't have anything until dinner.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I had two hours until dinner with Ephron.

The New York Times

We wash up after returning to the camp, then relax until dinner.

The New York Times

Menus, handwritten on construction paper, don't arrive until dinner is over.

The New York Times - Food

When planning to be full until dinner, participants selected larger portion sizes and showed a trend for increased activity in left insula.

Appetite

The question left unanswered by the study is whether the diminished appetite lasts until dinner time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I saw more people staying until dinner-time at Google than I saw at Amazon or Microsoft.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until dinner" to clearly define a time boundary. For example, "I will focus on my work until dinner, and then I will relax."

Common error

Avoid using "until dinner" when you mean "during dinner". "Until dinner" specifies a period leading up to the meal, not the meal itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until dinner" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, specifying the temporal limit of an action or state. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts to indicate when an activity will cease.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until dinner" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify a time boundary leading up to the dinner meal. As indicated by Ludwig, its versatility allows it to fit seamlessly into a variety of contexts, primarily appearing in news and media. While alternatives like "before dinner" or "prior to dinner" exist, "until dinner" remains a clear and effective way to define a temporal limit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to dinner

Replaces "until" with "prior to", indicating a time preceding dinner.

before dinner

A more concise way of saying "until dinner", indicating the time leading up to dinner.

until suppertime

Replaces "dinner" with "supper", a synonym for the evening meal.

till dinner

Uses "till" as a shortened, informal version of "until".

leading up to dinner

Emphasizes the period of time that progresses towards dinner.

up to dinner time

Specifies the exact time of dinner as the cutoff.

in anticipation of dinner

Highlights the expectation of dinner as the endpoint.

between now and dinner

Clearly defines the timeframe starting from the present moment and ending at dinner.

by dinner

Indicates a deadline or completion point coinciding with dinner.

awaiting dinner

Focuses on the state of waiting for the dinner meal to begin.

FAQs

How can I use "until dinner" in a sentence?

Use "until dinner" to indicate a period of time leading up to the evening meal. For example: "The children are allowed to play outside "until dinner" time".

What phrases are similar to "until dinner"?

Similar phrases include "before dinner", "prior to dinner", or "leading up to dinner", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "until dinner" and "by dinner"?

"Until dinner" refers to the time period leading up to dinner, while "by dinner" indicates a deadline or completion point that coincides with dinner. They aren't interchangeable.

Can I use "till dinner" instead of "until dinner"?

"Till dinner" is an acceptable, though slightly more informal, alternative to "until dinner". Both convey the same meaning.