dinnertime

dinnertime — noun

1. the time in the evening when people normally eat their main meal of the day

1.nounA1
Definition

the time in the evening when people normally eat their main meal of the day

Example

The Okonkwo family always gathers for dinnertime around a large wooden table.

collocation: for dinnertime (purpose)

Kian had to finish his maths homework before dinnertime or his mother would be disappointed.

collocation: before dinnertime

Common collocations
  • at dinnertime
  • before dinnertime
  • after dinnertime
  • by dinnertime
  • around dinnertime
  • until dinnertime
Synonyms
  • dinner hour

    less common; suggests a more formal or fixed schedule

  • suppertime

    used mainly for an evening meal that is lighter or more casual than dinner

  • evening meal time

    more descriptive and less idiomatic than 'dinnertime'

Grammar Patterns

at / before / after / by + dinnertime

Usage Note

Dinnertime is an uncountable noun, so it does not take 'a' or 'an'. It commonly appears after the prepositions 'at', 'before', 'after', or 'by'.

Common Mistakes

I will meet you at a dinnertime.
I will meet you at dinnertime.
'dinnertime' is uncountable and does not need an article.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Dinnertime' is the most common and neutral term for the time of the evening meal in everyday English. 'Suppertime' is used in some dialects when the evening meal is a lighter, less formal affair — for example, a family that eats a large meal at midday (lunch) and a smaller meal in the evening calls it supper, not dinner. 'Dinner hour' is more formal and often refers to a fixed, scheduled period, such as a restaurant's dinner service or a break in a work schedule. In practice, many speakers use 'dinnertime' and 'suppertime' interchangeably, depending on regional custom. A useful rule: if you invite someone for 'dinner', the time is 'dinnertime'; if you invite them for 'supper', it is 'suppertime'.

dinnertime ↗suppertime ↗dinner hour

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • in time for dinnertime
  • just before dinnertime
  • right at dinnertime

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

A compound word formed from 'dinner' and 'time'. 'Dinner' comes from Old French 'disner' (meaning 'to dine', originally 'to break one's fast'), and 'time' comes from Old English 'tīma' (a period or season). The compound 'dinnertime' has been in English use since at least the 18th century to refer to the habitual hour of the main evening meal.