appetizer

noun

Definition of appetizernext
as in snack
a small dish of food served before the main part of a meal Shrimp with cocktail sauce were served as an appetizer.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of appetizer The event will include pitmaster tastings, oysters, appetizers, desserts and drinks. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026 Atop the bar cart is a stainless steel surface coated in a satin finish, which provides a sleek place to prepare appetizers and meals and an easy-to-clean surface. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 If 2026 was the appetizer for the Socceroos, then 2030 should have Mount Kosciuszko-high expectations — there’s a little Down Under geography nugget for you — for what is served as the entrée. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026 At Teruko at Hotel Chelsea in New York City, the guest-favorite cold appetizer is a fatty tuna tartare with mountain potato and served with crispy rice, with the option to add osetra caviar. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for appetizer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appetizer
  1. snack
  2. taste
  3. bite
  4. mouthful
  5. nibble
Noun
  • Dining The Pennsylvanian features a cafe, where travelers can grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with snacks and a selection of beverages, including wine, beer, spirits, and nonalcoholic drinks.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026
  • In Asia, and especially in China, people have historically eaten raw goji berries as a snack, added them to salads, used them in soups and juices, and brewed them into herbal teas.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026
Definition of snack
Noun
  • Kansas City got just a small taste of the magnetic fever over Lionel Messi, the global superstar who is regarded as one of the best ever to kick a ball.
    — PJ Green July 13, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • Josh Sonni-Lambie This tour could be an exciting opportunity for the 18-year-old striker to get a taste of senior action.
    — Andy Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of taste
Noun
  • The district encouraged residents to take preventative measures, as avoiding mosquito bites is the most effective way to protect oneself from West Nile virus and other illnesses spread by mosquitos.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • The aforementioned allergy to things like ice cream and hamburgers, for example, is called alpha-gal syndrome, and it’s spread in the US by the bite of another tick, called the lone star.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of meat and — in some cases — dairy.
    — Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
  • But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of meat and — in some cases — dairy.
    — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 13 June 2026
Definition of mouthful
Noun
  • What could have been a throwaway nibble instead becomes a thought-through, gripping preface that sets up what’s to come.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Stuff homemade or store-bought pimiento cheese into jarred peppadew peppers for bite-size nibbles that make a grand impression.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 June 2026
Definition of nibble

Browse Nearby Words

appetites
appetizer
appetizers
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Cite this Entry

“Appetizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appetizer. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on appetizer

Nglish: Translation of appetizer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about appetizer

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