# appetite

/ˈæpəˌtaɪt/ (US) · /ˈæpɪtˌaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/appetite
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. desire for food

noun · CEFR B1

the feeling that you want to eat food.

For teachers: the natural physical desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.

- 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'.

### 2. strong desire for something

noun · CEFR B2

a strong interest in or desire for a particular activity or thing.

For teachers: a strong desire or liking for something; an eagerness to experience or possess something specific.

- 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'.

## Examples

- The long walk gave me a huge appetite.
- After the long hike through the mountains, the group had a massive appetite for a warm meal.
- The company's aggressive expansion into international markets suggests an insatiable appetite for growth that shows no signs of slowing down despite the current economic climate.

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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.