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

While other children were reaching for fruit snacks, I was sneaking handfuls of Castelvetranos from the appetizer tray.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

Phil Rizzuto would meet the moment by spending 10 minutes reviewing every single appetizer and side dish on the menu at the hotel steakhouse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

There are three restaurants available for lunch and dinner, each with a prix-fixe menu including appetizer, entree and dessert.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

Melania does, however, approve of Mann’s suggestion that she serve an appetizer of caviar-topped golden eggs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2026

But when the waitress brought the bill, Allison carefully began to untangle how many drinks each person had ordered and who had the calamari appetizer, to make sure nobody paid for anybody else.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

Of course, these six IPOs are mere appetizers to the SpaceX main course.

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

I cannot report on the fried appetizers or char-broiled steaks that comprise much of the menu.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

When they went out to eat, for instance, she recalls ordering appetizers, main courses and desserts, racking up expensive bills.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

In the evenings, she served Ritz crackers piled with sardines for appetizers and put dinner on TV trays so that everyone could watch the news or play a heated game of Scrabble.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama