appetite

[ap-i-tahyt]

noun

1. a desire for food or drink.

   I have no appetite for lunch today.

   Synonyms: thirst, hunger, longing
   Antonyms: satiety

2. a desire to satisfy any bodily need or craving.

   Synonyms: wish, inclination, hunger, longing
   Antonyms: satiety

3. a desire or liking for something; fondness; taste.

   an appetite for power; an appetite for pleasure.

   Synonyms: zest, gusto, relish, thirst, hunger, longing
   Antonyms: satiety

appetite

/ əˈpɛtɪtɪv, ˈæpɪˌtaɪtɪv, ˈæpɪˌtaɪt /

noun

1. a desire for food or drink

2. a desire to satisfy a bodily craving, as for sexual pleasure

3. (usually foll by for) a desire, liking, or willingness

   a great appetite for work

Other Word Forms

• appetitive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appetite¹

1275–1325; Middle English appetit (< Anglo-French ) < Latin appetītus natural desire, equivalent to appetī- (variant stem of appetere; appetence ) + -tus suffix of v. action

Word History and Origins

Origin of appetite¹

C14: from Old French apetit, from Latin appetītus a craving, from appetere to desire ardently

Idioms and Phrases

see whet one's appetite

Example Sentences

Whether those with little appetite for Farage remain fragmented in their loyalties or become consolidated behind one party could therefore be crucial in determining Reform's chances of power.

From BBC

There was no lack of appetite from markets however for the debt, banks put in £140bn of bids for £14bn in debt this morning.

From BBC

There is obviously an appetite to see global superstars who previously could only be watched on television, and Son belongs in that category of attraction.

From Los Angeles Times

The drug works as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone that makes people feel fuller.

From BBC

It is believed an estimated 1.5 million people are using weight loss jabs in the UK, designed to suppress your appetite and lead to weight loss.

From BBC

Related Words

• craving 
• demand 
• fondness 
• greed 
• hunger 
• inclination 
• longing 
• lust 
• passion 
• penchant 
• propensity 
• stomach 
• taste 
• thirst 
• weakness 
• willingness 
• yearning 
• zeal 
• zest