# appease

/əˈpiz/ (US) · /ɐpˈiːz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/appease
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. to satisfy a feeling

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to satisfy a strong feeling like hunger or curiosity so it goes away.

For teachers: to satisfy or allay a physical or psychological appetite or desire.

- He ate a small snack just to appease his hunger until dinner was ready.
- The explorer ventured into the uncharted jungle, driven by a lifelong need to appease his curiosity about ancient civilisations.

Teaching tip: In modern English, this sense is less common than the political or social sense of pacifying an opponent.

## Examples

- The manager tried to appease the angry customer with a refund.
- The government introduced minor tax reforms to appease the protesters, though many felt the changes did not go far enough.
- Historians often debate whether the policy was a genuine attempt at diplomacy or a failed effort to appease a regime that had no intention of honoring its treaties.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.