appetizing

American

[ap-i-tahy-zing] / ˈæp ɪˌtaɪ zɪŋ /

adjective

appealing to or stimulating the appetite; savory.
appealing; tempting.

appetizing British

/ ˈæpɪˌtaɪzɪŋ /

adjective

pleasing or stimulating to the appetite; delicious; tasty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See palatable.

Other Word Forms

appetizingly adverb
unappetizing adjective
unappetizingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of appetizing

First recorded in 1645–55; appet(ite) + -ize + -ing ², as translation of French appétissant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are many places in this city that real estate developers have found more appetizing.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

But investors looking for appetizing bargains in overseas markets should consider whether there are stocks at a discount in the U.S. as well.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

I love spending time on the couch and eating a meal and watching something that’s appetizing with my favorite person in the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

The city’s appetizing stores, which first appeared in the late 19th century, are a type of delicatessen that only sells products such as smoked and cured fish, dairy and nuts due to kosher law.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Agnes wasn’t the most appetizing luncheon companion, but since Gilly had decided Agnes might sometime come in handy, she might as well get used to her.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023