appetizer

American  

[ap-i-tahy-zer] / ˈæp ɪˌtaɪ zər /

noun

• appetizers
  plural

1. a small portion of a food or drink served before or at the beginning of a meal to stimulate the desire to eat.

2. any small portion that stimulates a desire for more or that indicates more is to follow.

   The first game was an appetizer to a great football season.

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appetizer British  

/ ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə /

noun

1. a small amount of food or drink taken to stimulate the appetite

2. any stimulating foretaste

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• appetizers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of appetizer

First recorded in 1860–65; appetiz(ing) + -er ¹

Explanation

An appetizer is part of a meal that's served before the main course. You might serve your dinner guests an appetizer of crab-stuffed mushrooms when they first arrive for dinner. Usually, an appetizer is a small serving of food — just a few bites — meant to be eaten before an entree, and often shared by several people. You can also call an appetizer an hors d'oeuvre. An appetizer is meant to stimulate your appetite, making you extra hungry for your meal. This is where the word comes from, literally meaning "something to whet the appetite" or "something to appetize."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

appetizer appetizers

A shockingly good celery, blue cheese, walnut appetizer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

In any case, the ADP report is an appetizer of sorts ahead of the main course for markets: the official U.S. employment report on Friday.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

SpaceX’s half-billion-dollar fee pool is expected to be a mere appetizer as Anthropic and OpenAI prepare to launch their own mammoth IPOs in the coming months.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

For many critics, it served as the tantalizing appetizer before the release of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in 1967, a dazzling entrée if ever there were one.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026

“Unless that meat’s the appetizer, and we’re the main course,” said George.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Unless this fish was topped with literal caviar, the meal you’re describing doesn’t sound like it would be near $500, especially if guests were also contributing sides and appetizers.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

Seated at a banquette table in the back of the restaurant, the pair ordered two entrees, drinks, and appetizers, totaling $371.55, and at some point during the meal, Eatherly began livestreaming.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

These are great as hors d’oeuvres or game day appetizers.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

The convenience store chain pointed to strong sales of whole pizzas as well as appetizers and sides, in addition to strength in non-alcoholic beverages.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

When the music comes back on, waiters appear with appetizers and plate after heaping plate of mouthwatering food—biryani and kebabs and tandoori chicken and samosas.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed