1 A2 neutral
To have a meal at a restaurant, café, or other food establishment instead of at home.
"We eat out every Friday evening as a family tradition."
inseparable
eat out
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To have a meal at a restaurant or café rather than at home.
In plain English
To go to a restaurant to eat instead of cooking at home.
What does "eat out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To eat outside (the home) — fully transparent.
Actually means
To go to a restaurant to eat instead of cooking at home.
Usage tip
One of the most common and essential phrasal verbs for everyday conversation. Used by all age groups in both British and American English. Also appears in economic contexts: 'eating out spending rose last year.'
Words that pair with "eat out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
restaurant tonight Friday often prefer afford
How to conjugate "eat out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
eat out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
eats out
he/she/it
Past simple
ate out
yesterday
Past participle
eaten out
have + pp
-ing form
eating out
continuous
Hear "eat out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "eat out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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