appetite

noun

ap·​pe·​tite ˈa-pə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
1
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
He has a hearty appetite.
2
a
: an inherent craving
an insatiable appetite for work
b
: taste, preference
… the cultural appetites of the time …J. D. Hart
appetitive adjective

Examples of appetite in a Sentence

He has a healthy appetite. Some common symptoms are tiredness, nausea, and loss of appetite. I had no appetite and couldn't sleep.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Your child shows physical signs of stress like frequent headaches, stomachaches, or changes in appetite. Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 11 Feb. 2025 Whatever your appetite calls for, just remember to keep your TV on, no matter what Kendrick Lamar tells you. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2025 Perrin-Faivre pointed out there is an appetite for more categories. Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 7 Feb. 2025 If it’s decided during the work session to not explore having a municipal dispensary, Larson said the next question will be if there is an appetite on deciding how many licenses would be allowed in the city. Alex Malm, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for appetite 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appetit, appetite "inherent drive or urge (in physiology), desire for food or drink, longing," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French appetit, apetite (also continental Old French apetit), borrowed from Latin appetītus "natural or instinctive desire," from appetī-, variant stem of appetere "to try to reach, have a natural desire for, seek to obtain, strive after" (from ap- ap- + petere "to direct one's course to, seek to obtain") + -tu-, -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at feather entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of appetite was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near appetite

Cite this Entry

“Appetite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appetite. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

appetite

noun
ap·​pe·​tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
1
: a natural desire especially for food
2
: taste entry 2 sense 4
an appetite for adventure

Medical Definition

appetite

noun
ap·​pe·​tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt How to pronounce appetite (audio)
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
appetitive adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on appetite

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