suppertime

IPA/ˈsʌp.əˌtaɪm/
IPA/ˈsʌp.ɚˌtaɪm/

suppertime — noun

1. the evening hour when a family or household sits down together for the main meal

1.nounA2
Definition

the evening hour when a family or household sits down together for the main meal of the day

Example

Tanvi's family usually gathers around the table at suppertime to talk about their day.

collocation: at suppertime

Henrik finished his homework just before suppertime so his mother would not worry.

collocation: before suppertime

Common collocations
  • at suppertime
  • before suppertime
  • until suppertime
  • around suppertime
  • after suppertime
  • near suppertime
Synonyms
  • dinner time

    more neutral in register and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts

  • evening meal time

    more descriptive and slightly formal; less common in casual speech

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

at suppertime

before/until/around suppertime

Usage Note

Slightly informal; used mainly in everyday family and casual settings. In more formal writing, 'dinner time' is often preferred. Typically does not take an article ('at suppertime', not 'at the suppertime').

Common Mistakes

We eat at the suppertime every evening.
We eat at suppertime every evening.
'suppertime' does not take an article in most contexts.
I will see you at suppertime tomorrow morning.
I will see you at suppertime tomorrow evening.
'suppertime' always refers to the evening meal.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three refer to the time of the evening meal, but they differ in register and regional use. 'Suppertime' is the most informal and domestic — you would use it at home with family or friends. 'Dinner time' is the neutral, across-the-board term suitable for any context, from a restaurant booking to a school schedule. 'Evening meal time' is more descriptive and slightly formal; it appears in written guides or institutional timetables but sounds stilted in casual conversation. For example, a parent might call 'Suppertime!' to the children, a teacher might say 'Dinner time starts at 6 PM', and a hotel brochure might list 'Evening meal time: 7:00–8:30'.

dinner timeevening meal timesupportime

Common collocations

Phrases

  • suppertime is near
  • suppertime is ready
  • at suppertime
  • before suppertime

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

A compound of 'supper' (from Old French 'soper', meaning 'evening meal') and 'time' (from Old English 'tīma', meaning 'a period or occasion'). The word has been in use since at least the 1700s.