as in snacks
a small dish of food served before the main part of a meal
Shrimp with cocktail sauce were served as an appetizer.
Related Words
Relevance
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 appetizers
Importer Wilson Daniel curates a lineup of exclusive wines like Gaja, Dal Forno Romano, Biondi Santi and more to pair with appetizers and finger foods.
—
Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
The Capital Grille is known for its extensive list of specialty wines, dry-aged steaks and seafood appetizers.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Rich, creamy, and packed with flavor, Boursin cheese is a go-to for everything from quick pasta dishes to elegant appetizers.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
The relatively small sit-down restaurant near the Centerpointe food court has a concise menu of sushi rolls, two rice bowls (poke and chicken teriyaki) and a few appetizers.
—Kate Williams, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
And thanks to the marble design, appetizers stay cool while serving outside.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
No matter the occasion, these summer appetizers are ready to celebrate the season deliciously.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 21 May 2026
The first courses are elevated seafood appetizers, such as an Otoro bluefin tuna flauta and Hokkaido sea urchin tamal.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
At FreshCo, Palazon is experimenting with charbroiled options, creating more appetizers and serving some former big plates as appetizers.
—Connie Ogle
updated May 15, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
The Capital Grille is known for its extensive list of specialty wines, dry-aged steaks and seafood appetizers.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Rich, creamy, and packed with flavor, Boursin cheese is a go-to for everything from quick pasta dishes to elegant appetizers.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
The relatively small sit-down restaurant near the Centerpointe food court has a concise menu of sushi rolls, two rice bowls (poke and chicken teriyaki) and a few appetizers.
—Kate Williams, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
And thanks to the marble design, appetizers stay cool while serving outside.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
No matter the occasion, these summer appetizers are ready to celebrate the season deliciously.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 21 May 2026
The first courses are elevated seafood appetizers, such as an Otoro bluefin tuna flauta and Hokkaido sea urchin tamal.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
At FreshCo, Palazon is experimenting with charbroiled options, creating more appetizers and serving some former big plates as appetizers.
—Connie Ogle
updated May 15, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appetizers
Noun
-
The mini-bar had a decent selection of interesting snacks, and for coffee there’s a Nespresso machine.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Amenities are fairly minimal, so plan ahead with water, snacks, and sun protection—though the visitor center does have some refreshments, including ice cream.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
For quick bites and coffee on the go, the hotel also offers two cafés, Plnthouse, on the second floor, and Neighbors, in the lobby (as well as a lobby bar, Drift, with bites and libations available until eleven o’clock at night).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The disease, which can be transmitted through bites and scratches from infected animals, is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms occur.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Plus, there’s the economy and evolving tastes.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
2 June 2026
-
The song amplifies what makes the album such a captivating listen, as Vandal pulls from across her varied experiences and tastes to continually push back against sonic expectations.—
Erica Campbell,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Following their wedding luncheon, where 600 guests enjoyed nibbles and small dishes meant to be eaten standing up while in conversation, the couple moved on to their second, more private evening reception.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
In recent years, Amazon’s assumption of the Thursday Night Football package and exploratory nibbles from the likes of YouTube have poured billions of bonus bucks into the league’s coffers.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The possibility of a Chase and Taylor flirtation causing a rift with Miranda is briefly raised and just as swiftly quashed — through large mouthfuls of chips and salsa, Taylor assures Miranda at the sip-and-see that there is no there there.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
But now, the future of Lucille’s American Cafe, a Weston comfort-food institution serving up mouthfuls of nostalgia since 1999, is unclear.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Appetizers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appetizers. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
