appetite

noun

ap·​pe·​tite ˈa-pə-ˌtīt 

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

ˈa-pə-ˌtī-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• hunger
• stomach
• craving

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

The modern craft beer revival suggests that consumer appetite for nuance can return. —Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025

The burros' appetites for native desert trees are endangering the long-term sustainability of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. —John Leos, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025

After working up an appetite, sample a variety of food and beverages from Paw Paw's Smoke Shack, Grandma's Country Kitchen, Lemonade Wagon and Aiden's Bait Shop open Saturday and Sunday only and Back 40 Snack Shack and Sadie J's Sweet Shop open weekdays and weekends. —Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025

This mineral is essential for various bodily processes that may support weight loss, such as appetite control and blood sugar regulation. —Devineé Lingo, Health, 22 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing appetite

• hearty appetite
• lose one's appetite
• ravenous appetite
• whet one's appetite

Rhymes for appetite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

appetite

noun

ap·​pe·​tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt 

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 

: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life

especially : the desire to eat

appetitive

-ˌtīt-iv 

adjective