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appetite

American  
[ap-i-tahyt] / ˈæp ɪˌtaɪt /

noun

  1. a desire for food or drink.

    I have no appetite for lunch today.
    Synonyms:
    thirst, hunger, longing
    Antonyms:
    satiety

  2. a desire to satisfy any bodily need or craving.

    Synonyms:
    wish, inclination, hunger, longing
    Antonyms:
    satiety

  3. a desire or liking for something; fondness; taste.

    an appetite for power; an appetite for pleasure.
    Synonyms:
    zest, gusto, relish, thirst, hunger, longing
    Antonyms:
    satiety
appetite British  
/ əˈpɛtɪtɪv, ˈæpɪˌtaɪtɪv, ˈæpɪˌtaɪt /

noun

  1. a desire for food or drink

  2. a desire to satisfy a bodily craving, as for sexual pleasure

  3. (usually foll by for) a desire, liking, or willingness

    a great appetite for work
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
appetite Idioms  

  1. see whet one's appetite

Other Word Forms

  • appetitive adjective

Etymology

Origin of appetite

1275–1325; Middle English appetit (< Anglo-French ) < Latin appetītus natural desire, equivalent to appetī- (variant stem of appetere; appetence ) + -tus suffix of v. action

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While investors’ appetite for space has grown in recent years, NASA, through its contracts, remains a major backer of everything from satellite makers to launch companies.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The fund’s success suggests investor appetite for private credit despite Wall Street concerns and record withdrawals from other funds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Cultural and political norms limit the appetite for securities investment, says Johann Scholtz, European bank analyst at Morningstar.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The union is consulting its members over potential industrial action over pay, to gauge the appetite before committing to a formal ballot.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

He adds a chunk of butter so big, it almost melts away my appetite.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.