appetite
AP-ih-tyt
Appetite (noun) means a desire to eat. Example: “After the long walk, we sat down to dinner with a hearty appetite.”
noun
1
A desire to eat.
"After the long walk, we sat down to dinner with a hearty appetite."
"Fresh air always gives me a huge appetite."
"The medication suppressed his appetite for weeks."
2
A strong desire or eagerness for something in general.
"The young chef had a huge appetite for adventure and travelled widely."
"She has a real appetite for risk in business."
"His appetite for learning new languages never faded."
How to use appetite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishYour desire to eat, or more broadly, a strong craving or enthusiasm for something.
Common pairings
lose your appetite
work up an appetite
appetite for risk
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Word forms
- Plural
- appetites
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After the long walk, we sat down to dinner with a hearty _____.
Etymology
From Old French apetit, from Latin appetitus, "a longing for," from appetere, "to strive after" — ad- ("toward") + petere ("to seek").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for appetite
See all rhymes for appetite →Frequently asked questions
What does “appetite” mean?
The word “appetite” means a desire to eat. In plain terms, your desire to eat, or more broadly, a strong craving or enthusiasm for something.
How do you pronounce “appetite”?
“Appetite” is pronounced AP-ih-tyt (/ˈæp.əˌtaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “appetite” in a sentence?
Here is “appetite” used in a sentence: “Fresh air always gives me a huge appetite.”
What is another word for “appetite”?
Words with a similar meaning to “appetite” include craving, longing, desire, appetency and passion.
What part of speech is “appetite”?
“Appetite” is a noun.
Where does the word “appetite” come from?
The word “appetite” comes from Latin. From Old French apetit, from Latin appetitus, "a longing for," from appetere, "to strive after" — ad- ("toward") + petere ("to seek").
Is “appetite” a common word?
“Appetite” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “appetite” have?
“Appetite” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a desire to eat.
What is the difference between "appetite" and "hunger"?
Hunger is the physical need or discomfort that signals the body needs food, while appetite is the desire to eat, which can be shaped by taste, mood, or habit even when you are not truly hungry. You can have an appetite without being hungry, and lose your appetite while still needing to eat.
What is the difference between "appetite" and "craving"?
An appetite is a general desire to eat or a broad eagerness for something, while a craving is an intense, specific urge for a particular thing. A craving is usually stronger and more focused than an ordinary appetite.
What prepositions are used with "appetite"?
"Appetite" is commonly followed by "for," as in "an appetite for risk" or "an appetite for food." You can also "lose" or "whet" your appetite, with "whet" meaning to sharpen or increase it.
Can "appetite" refer to things other than food?
Yes. Besides the desire to eat, "appetite" can mean a strong eagerness for something in general, as in "an appetite for adventure" or "an appetite for learning." In this figurative sense it describes enthusiasm or demand.
