Phrasal verb
eat out
To eat out means to have a meal at a restaurant instead of at home.
Meanings
to have a meal at a restaurant or other place that serves food, rather than at home
to regularly choose restaurants for meals instead of cooking at home
Definition
If you eat out, you go to a restaurant, café, or other place that serves food and you eat there (or sometimes buy food there instead of cooking). It is a common way to talk about not eating at home. People often mention eating out when discussing plans, cost, or convenience.
Examples
- I don’t feel like cooking, so I’ll eat out tonight.
- We usually eat out on Fridays after work.
- She decided to eat out because her kitchen was being renovated.
- They eat out too often when they’re traveling for conferences.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say "eat outside" when they mean going to a restaurant; "eat out" is the natural phrase.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.