appetite

noun

ap·​pe·​tite ˈa-pə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
1
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
He has a hearty appetite.
2
a
: an inherent craving
an insatiable appetite for work
b
: taste, preference
… the cultural appetites of the time …J. D. Hart
appetitive adjective

Examples of appetite in a Sentence

He has a healthy appetite. Some common symptoms are tiredness, nausea, and loss of appetite. I had no appetite and couldn't sleep.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sample size for this season remains too small to scrutinise convincingly, but in the last two campaigns, there has been an evident appetite for going short from the left, aside from the predictable six-yard-box targets on both sides. Beren Cross, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 While global data center appetite is strong, the pace and scale of these projects are straining traditional lenders, said the panelists. Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025 Chalhoub Group is the leading luxury partner across the Middle East and the CEO told the crowd that the company is focused on the upcoming opening of a distribution center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to satiate the growing appetite for luxury goods. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025 Another finding is that risk appetite is understandably subdued. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for appetite

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appetit, appetite "inherent drive or urge (in physiology), desire for food or drink, longing," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French appetit, apetite (also continental Old French apetit), borrowed from Latin appetītus "natural or instinctive desire," from appetī-, variant stem of appetere "to try to reach, have a natural desire for, seek to obtain, strive after" (from ap- ap- + petere "to direct one's course to, seek to obtain") + -tu-, -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at feather entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of appetite was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appetite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appetite. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

appetite

noun
ap·​pe·​tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
1
: a natural desire especially for food
2
: taste entry 2 sense 4
an appetite for adventure

Medical Definition

appetite

noun
ap·​pe·​tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
appetitive adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on appetite

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