Word
appetite
Phoneticsap·petite
US/ˈæpəˌtaɪt/
UK/ˈæpɪtˌaɪt/
Definitions
01desire for food
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the feeling that you want to eat food.
n. the natural physical desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.
日本語:食欲※
“The long walk in the fresh air gave everyone a healthy appetite for dinner.”
“The patient reported a significant loss of appetite following the surgery, finding even his favourite meals unappealing during the recovery period.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'have', 'lose', or 'whet'.
Antonyms
02strong desire for something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a strong interest in or desire for a particular activity or thing.
n. a strong desire or liking for something; an eagerness to experience or possess something specific.
日本語:欲望※
“The public has an endless appetite for news about the royal family.”
“Investors showed a renewed appetite for risk after the central bank announced it would keep interest rates stable for the next quarter.”
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'for'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “appetite” in context.
Verb
01. satiate an appetite
“The company acquired several smaller firms to satiate its appetite for rapid expansion.”
verb + noun
02. spoil one's appetite
“Don't eat those cookies now; you will spoil your appetite for dinner.”
verb + possessive + noun
03. whet one's appetite
“The short trailer was designed to whet the audience's appetite for the upcoming sequel.”
verb + possessive + noun
Adjective
04. insatiable appetite
“The public has an insatiable appetite for celebrity gossip and scandal.”
adj + noun
05. voracious appetite
“After the marathon, he had a voracious appetite and ate a massive meal.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. appetite for risk
“Investors with a high appetite for risk often prefer emerging markets.”
noun + prep
07. loss of appetite
“A sudden loss of appetite can be a symptom of various underlying health issues.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Mumps is another contagious viral infection; symptoms include painful jaw swelling, fever and appetite loss.” “Foundayo is a form of GLP-1 medication that blunts appetite, and comes after the MHRA approved a pill version of a similar weight-loss drug, Wegovy, in June.” Etymology
From Middle English appetit, from Old French apetit (French appétit), from Latin appetitus, from appetere (“to strive after, long for”); ad + petere (“to seek”). See petition, and compare with appetence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/appetite
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0