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

Derived 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

This report tries to pull out what we can learn from these experiences at a moment when it seems like there is a lot of appetite from governments and from advocacy groups for more regulation.

From MIT Technology Review

Amid strong investor appetite for electric-vehicle companies, a startup backed by Bill Gates plans to raise $1 billion by going public.

From Fortune

In many quarters, there’s a strong appetite for a smaller scale, for mom-and-pop and indie and artisanal.

From Freakonomics

I think what seems to be building in America is a growing appetite and a growing recognition that this isn’t working for our country.

From Freakonomics

Typically, e-commerce sales would now be entering a lull ahead of the scramble of sale days and shopping in November and December, said Watson, who doesn’t expect the last five months to dampen the appetite for the upcoming holiday spending spree.

From Digiday

To whet your appetite, you can relive that glorious moment (and watch other programs from the 2014 summit) here.

From The Daily Beast

In “Cartoons and Cereal,” he sings, “Reminisce when I had the morning appetite/ Apple Jacks, had nothing that I hit the TV Guide.”

From The Daily Beast

At the time of the flight she had “regained her appetite” and was able to walk with assistance as well.

From The Daily Beast

In addition to headaches and restlessness, she had lost her appetite and a lot of weight.

From The Daily Beast

It was also her open sexual appetite, which Cooke brings up in section after section of the book.

From The Daily Beast

And having an enormous appetite he was fortunate in being expert at finding angleworms.

From Project Gutenberg

Then a nervous, anxious feeling that takes away my appetite, and prevents me from eating my dinner.

From Project Gutenberg

Of this meal all heartily partook, for a Korean is never guilty of having a poor appetite.

From Project Gutenberg

Supper being endedit may be easily conceived that Oliver had no great appetite for itMr.

From Project Gutenberg

I gave the most willing consent; a ride of thirty miles had given me the appetite of a hunter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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