appetite

noun

ap·​pe·​tite ˈa-pə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
Synonyms of appetite
1
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
He has a hearty appetite.
2
a
: an inherent craving
an insatiable appetite for work
b
: taste, preference
… the cultural appetites of the time …—J. D. Hart
appetitive
ˈa-pə-ˌtī-tiv How to pronounce appetite (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of appetite

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Examples of appetite in a Sentence

He has a healthy appetite. Some common symptoms are tiredness, nausea, and loss of appetite. I had no appetite and couldn't sleep.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Long-standing problems and new barriers are combining to make a career in dietetics less appealing and less financially feasible, just as the nation is increasing its appetite for nutrition in health care. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 Customers from the Middle East and Southeast Asia have also expressed an appetite for the brand. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 At the same time — despite Tuesday’s move — investor appetite for riskier assets like stocks continues to climb. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 Other symptoms may include headache, nausea and loss of appetite. — Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for appetite

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appetit, appetite "inherent drive or urge (in physiology), desire for food or drink, longing," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French appetit, apetite (also continental Old French apetit), borrowed from Latin appetītus "natural or instinctive desire," from appetī-, variant stem of appetere "to try to reach, have a natural desire for, seek to obtain, strive after" (from ap- ap- + petere "to direct one's course to, seek to obtain") + -tu-, -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at feather entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of appetite was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing appetite

Rhymes for appetite

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Browse Nearby Words

appetiser
appetite
appetitious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appetite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appetite. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

appetite

noun
ap·​pe·​tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
1
: a natural desire especially for food
2
: taste entry 2 sense 4
an appetite for adventure

Medical Definition

appetite

noun
ap·​pe·​tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
appetitive
-ˌtīt-iv How to pronounce appetite (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on appetite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about appetite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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