Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

appetizer

noun ap·pe·tiz·er \ ˈa-pə-ˌtī-zər \
|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of appetizer

1 : a food or drink that stimulates the appetite and is usually served before a meal
  • The appetizers included shrimp with cocktail sauce, vegetables and dips, cheeses, and fruits.
2 : something that stimulates a desire for more
  • a literary appetizer
  • hoped that the short trip would be an appetizer for longer ones

See appetizer defined for English-language learners

See appetizer defined for kids

Recent Examples of appetizer from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appetizer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of appetizer

see appetite

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

APPETIZER Defined for English Language Learners

appetizer

noun

Definition of appetizer for English Language Learners

  • : a small dish of food served before the main part of a meal

APPETIZER Defined for Kids

appetizer

noun ap·pe·tiz·er \ ˈa-pə-ˌtī-zər \

Definition of appetizer for Students

: a food or drink served before a meal

Learn More about appetizer

  1. See words that rhyme with appetizer Spanish Central: Translation of appetizer Nglish: Translation of appetizer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of appetizer for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about appetizer

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up appetizer? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gaffer

play

a lighting electrician on a movie set

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  2. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  3. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

  4. emolument 'the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites'

  5. troll 'to harass, criticize, or antagonize especially by disparaging or mocking public statements'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

appetizer

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games