appetizer

noun

ap·pe·tiz·er | \ˈa-pə-ˌtī-zər

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

Examples of appetizer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Save the finest china—or any china—for the main event and opt for disposable, eco-friendly plates and trays for appetizers to deftly cut down on cleanup. — Vogue, "Kitchen Confidential: 4 Tricks to Make Your Post-Party Cleanup a Breeze," 16 Nov. 2018 Their exclusive dinner menu offers multiple options for your appetizer, entree, side, and dessert. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "18 Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving This Year," 16 Oct. 2018 Figure on $13 to $16 for appetizers, $20 to $30 for entrees. — Michael Klein, Philly.com, "Aether, an offshoot of popular Princeton restaurants, to put the fish in Fishtown," 13 July 2018 Prices: Start at $4 for sides, $5 for soup, $8 for salads, $9 for appetizers, $14 for Cajun Chicken Pasta, $22 for Yellow Perch, $23 for sirloin, pork chops at $25, filet mignon at $29 and bottles of rose at $40. — Patrick Z. Mcgavin, Post-Tribune, "Guide to outdoor dining in Chicago suburbs and NWI: Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake," 9 July 2018 Her work with Estrada produced a menu that begins with appetizers: beef or chicken nachos, three-cheese quesadilla, queso and chips, street corn with queso fresco, and guacamole. — Greg Morago, Houston Chronicle, "First look: Dream Tacos TX," 7 June 2018 The memorial service is at 6:00 pm followed by a celebration of Terry with light appetizers and refreshments at Baldwin Fairchild. — Orlando Sentinel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Deaths in Central Florida: 4/6," 6 Apr. 2018 But generally speaking, keep an eye out for menus with petite appetizers or mid-sized mains. — OregonLive.com, "How to eat out during Portland Dining Month like a pro," 26 Feb. 2018 Pick a place for drinks and/or appetizers, then a place for entrees, then another place for desserts. — Anna Pulley, RedEye Chicago, "Ask Anna: How do I make Valentine's Day more unique?," 5 Feb. 2018

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.