we had dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we had dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you and others have eaten a meal together in the past. Example: "Last night, we had dinner at a new Italian restaurant downtown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We had dinner".

The New York Times

Afterward, we had dinner.

The New Yorker

"We had dinner once".

The New York Times - Arts

Then we had dinner and a party.

The New Yorker

I'm not sure if we had dinner.

The New York Times

We had dinner and he was hesitant.

The New York Times

We had dinner, but nobody was hungry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We had dinner all the time.

The New York Times - Sports

Perry called, and we had dinner at Mr. Chow's".

The New York Times

We had dinner and hit it off immediately.

The New York Times - Science

We had dinner with another couple at an elegant restaurant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a more formal or elaborate dining experience, consider using "we dined" as an alternative.

Common error

Avoid using past perfect tense (e.g., "we had had dinner") unless you need to indicate that the dinner occurred before another past action. Simply using "we had dinner" is usually sufficient for most narratives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we had dinner" functions as a statement of a past event. It indicates that the speaker and others participated in eating dinner. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used to describe a completed action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we had dinner" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to simply state that a group of people ate dinner together. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and widely applicable. While primarily found in news and media contexts, its neutral register allows for use in various settings. For more formal contexts, alternatives like "we dined" may be preferable. Ensure correct tense usage to avoid common errors. This phrase is used to inform or recount a past event, and its meaning is easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we ate dinner

More direct and simple way to express the action of eating dinner.

we enjoyed dinner

Emphasizes the pleasure or positive experience of having dinner.

we dined

Formal synonym, implies a more elaborate or elegant meal.

we had supper

Alternative term for dinner, often used regionally.

we partook in dinner

More formal way of saying 'we had dinner'.

we shared a meal

Highlights the communal aspect of eating together, not specifically dinner.

we broke bread

Figurative expression for sharing a meal, emphasizing fellowship.

dinner was had by us

Passive voice construction, less common and more formal.

we took dinner

Less common usage; implies consuming dinner, but sounds slightly awkward.

we supped

Archaic term for having supper or dinner.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "we had dinner"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "we dined" or "we partook in dinner". These options suggest a more elaborate or elegant meal.

What can I say instead of "we had dinner" to emphasize the enjoyment?

To emphasize enjoyment, you can say "we enjoyed dinner". This phrasing highlights the positive experience of the meal.

Is it correct to say "we had supper" instead of "we had dinner"?

"We had supper" is a regional alternative to "we had dinner" and is perfectly acceptable, though less common in some areas.

How can I specify that the dinner was shared with others rather than focusing on consumption with "we had dinner"?

To emphasize the communal aspect, you might say "we shared a meal" instead of "we had dinner". This focuses on the experience of eating together.