appetizer

noun

ap·​pe·​tiz·​er ˈa-pə-ˌtī-zər 

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

Want to get a head start on party appetizer prep or planning to enjoy these cheese crackers with snacks or lunches throughout the week? —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024

The appetizer table will feature a charcuterie board, bacon rollups, brie bites, bruschetta, sausage rolls, wings, spinach and artichoke dip and Irish potato pancakes known as boxty. —Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 20 Dec. 2024

And appetizers as disparate as burrata, hamachi collar, and fideos somehow all make sense together in the chefs’ hands. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2024

But before our last meeting of the year during the holiday season, our group wanted to up the ante on our appetizer game for the book’s finale. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

appetiz(ing) + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

appetizer

noun

ap·​pe·​tiz·​er ˈap-ə-ˌtī-zər 

1

: a food or drink usually served before a meal to make one hungrier

2

: something that creates a desire for more