1 B1 neutral
To eat the midday meal at home, at one's workplace, or in a familiar indoor setting rather than going to a restaurant.
"I decided to lunch in today to save money and finish my report."
inseparable
lunch in
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To eat lunch at home, at one's desk, or indoors rather than going to a restaurant or café.
In plain English
To eat your midday meal at home or at work instead of going to a restaurant.
What does "lunch in" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Lunch' used as a verb + 'in' = to have lunch inside. Transparent.
Actually means
To eat your midday meal at home or at work instead of going to a restaurant.
Usage tip
Slightly formal or old-fashioned in tone; more common in British English. The opposite of 'lunch out.' Often heard in office or workplace contexts to describe eating at one's desk or in the staff room. Becoming less common as 'eat in' is used more broadly.
Words that pair with "lunch in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
today desk office home usually often
How to conjugate "lunch in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lunch in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lunches in
he/she/it
Past simple
lunched in
yesterday
Past participle
lunched in
have + pp
-ing form
lunching in
continuous
Hear "lunch in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lunch in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "lunch in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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