appetizer

ap·pe·tiz·er | \ ˈa-pə-ˌtī-zər

How to pronounce appetizer (audio)

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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 Local singer-songwriter Dave Ciccantelli will perform, and there will be appetizers, a cash bar and raffle, said Stacie Estrada, owner of Uptown Art. — Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A Lisbon family whose house burned down is holding an event to thank the community for its support," 15 Jan. 2020 Cold Spicy Beef Tendon, commonly found among appetizers on traditional Chinese menus, is incredibly tender at Red Pearl. — Eric Velasco, al, "This restaurant and market serves some of Birmingham’s most authentic Chinese food," 21 Jan. 2020 Meal for two, sans drinks: $24-$35 What to order: mala tonkotsu ramen Meat-free options: Only the edamame appetizer. — Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, "Tsuta’s Michelin-starred ramen loses traction in San Francisco," 16 Jan. 2020 Beer, wine and appetizers are available for purchase during each event. — Briana Rice, Cincinnati.com, "'Museum on Tap' lets you tour the Cincinnati Museum Center after hours with special events," 8 Jan. 2020 For example, a pint of it could net you your next appetizer at Applebee’s. — Trevor Fraser, orlandosentinel.com, "Give blood, get $10 off at Applebee’s," 25 Sep. 2019 My favorite appetizer was the most unusual one — cauliflower waffles, an idea Prosperi got from a cookbook-writing friend. — Rand Richards Cooper, courant.com, "Review: Now in its third home, Metro Bis in Simsbury offers five-star harmony of setting, service and food," 18 Sep. 2019 Another award is ‘Best of Taste’ where competitors will be competing for best dessert, best entrée and best appetizers. — Laraib Hashmi, Houston Chronicle, "Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce set to serve up annual Taste of the Town," 9 Jan. 2020 One attention-getting item is a bone marrow appetizer which, for a couple extra dollars, customers can order with a shot of whiskey to be drunk out of the bone. — Tirion Morris, azcentral, "Uptown Phoenix is getting a new rock ’n’ roll-inspired cocktail bar. Here's what to expect," 9 Jan. 2020

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.

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Last Updated

12 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Appetizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appetizer. Accessed 25 Feb. 2020.

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