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

Employers’ appetite for hiring fell in half of the Fed’s 12 regional divisions, the central bank said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That knowledge has led to strategies—which GLP-1 patients have been discussing in internet chat rooms and on social-media sites—to skip or delay doses to maximize appetites for the feast.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

These have fed an inexhaustible appetite for information, studies and special data, enabling ever more expansive government policy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Dad was able to take his lessons and learning to all parts of the world. He had an enduring appetite for work and to use his time in a meaningful way," she added.

Read more on BBC

“With our clear strategic focus, our revised risk appetite framework, and overall strengthened risk function and processes, we are now entirely aligned around our core wealth management proposition,” Chief Executive Stefan Bollinger said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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