appetite

[ap-i-tahyt]

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• appetitive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appetite¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of appetite¹

C14: from Old French apetit, from Latin appetītus a craving, from appetere to desire ardently

Idioms and Phrases

see whet one's appetite

Example Sentences

“The growing appetite for water-intensive agricultural products is threatening not only ecosystems and communities, but also the long-term stability of agri-food markets and investor returns,” the report said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Claude is known as a bit of a diva with a picky appetite, said Bart Shepherd, senior director of Steinhart Aquarium.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Investors haven’t lost their appetite for risk in that new world—the AI-crazed stock market is at records—but instead are hedging their bets with investments not denominated in weakening dollars.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

They are seeing enough appetite in corporate boardrooms and executive suites, as well as a booming stock market, that they are pushing ahead with plans to expand and battling for top hires.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Entergy is just one of the energy providers that has worked increasingly with data-center operators, seeing an opportunity in AI’s appetite for power.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• craving 
• demand 
• fondness 
• greed 
• hunger 
• inclination 
• longing 
• lust 
• passion 
• penchant 
• propensity 
• stomach 
• taste 
• thirst 
• weakness 
• willingness 
• yearning 
• zeal 
• zest