waiting for dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'waiting for dinner' is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it when you are describing someone being patient while anticipating dinner. For example: "Sally spent the evening patiently waiting for dinner to be served."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

"I hate waiting for dinner.

The Guardian - Film

Boswell records him on a rainy night, waiting for dinner.

The Guardian - Books

Little wonder he kept Israel's first couple waiting for dinner.

The Guardian - Opinion

They'd be the perfect waiting games: waiting rooms, waiting in line, waiting for dinner.

The New York Times - Tech

Four years is a long time to keep people waiting for dinner.

The Washington Post

And a lot of times when I'm waiting for dinner I read.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

This Easter, you do not have to wait for dinner to serve lamb.

The New York Times - Food

If work ended at 3.30pm, you could go to your unit and wash and wait for dinner.

The Guardian

About 200 people mingled in the reception hall, sipping wine as they waited for dinner to be served.

The New York Times - Magazine

A daughter, Yanel, 10, sat at the dining table working on math problems, and Mariela, 2, waited for dinner.

The Washington Post

Two floors down from the helipad, men in red coveralls waited for dinner in a hall lined with gold safety plaques.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene, use "waiting for dinner" to set the tone of anticipation or hunger. For example: "The children, restless and "waiting for dinner", played tag in the living room."

Common error

Avoid repeating "waiting for dinner" excessively in a single passage. Use varied language to describe the situation, such as "anticipating the meal" or describing the activities done while waiting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "waiting for dinner" typically functions as a prepositional phrase, often modifying a noun or verb by describing a state of anticipation or an activity happening before a meal. It specifies the reason for waiting or the context of an action. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "waiting for dinner" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to describe the state of anticipating a meal. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to convey anticipation or to set the context for an activity occurring before dinner. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for a wide range of contexts, particularly in News & Media, Wiki, and scientific publications. While it's a useful and straightforward phrase, be mindful of overuse and consider using synonyms like "awaiting supper" for variety. Remember to differentiate its meaning from potentially similar phrases such as "waiting on dinner", ensuring accurate and clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awaiting supper

Replaces "dinner" with "supper", a synonym, thus altering the specific mealtime but retaining the core meaning of anticipation.

anticipating the evening meal

Formal rephrasing using "anticipating" instead of "waiting" and specifying "evening meal" for dinner.

while dinner is being prepared

Focuses on the activity happening during the wait, rather than the state of waiting itself.

before the meal

A broader term indicating the time leading up to any meal, not specifically dinner.

biding time until supper

Uses a more idiomatic expression, "biding time", to describe the waiting period.

killing time before dinner

Highlights the act of occupying oneself while waiting, using "killing time".

passing the time until the food is ready

Expands on the reason for waiting, which is the preparation of the food.

in anticipation of the feast

Emphasizes the excitement and expectation of a large, elaborate meal.

pre-dinner activities

A general term referring to any actions taken before dinner.

while the food cooks

Specifies that the waiting is due to the cooking process of the food.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "waiting for dinner"?

You can use alternatives like "awaiting supper", "anticipating the evening meal", or "killing time before dinner" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "wait for dinner" or "waiting for dinner"?

"Wait for dinner" is an imperative, a command, while "waiting for dinner" is a continuous action. Therefore, "waiting for dinner" describes someone in the process of waiting.

How can I use "waiting for dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "waiting for dinner" to describe a state of anticipation, like: "The family was "waiting for dinner", playing board games to pass the time."

What's the difference between "waiting for dinner" and "waiting on dinner"?

"Waiting for dinner" means anticipating the meal, while "waiting on dinner" (though less common) could imply serving or attending to the dinner preparation, although it's more common to say "waiting on someone" than "waiting on dinner".