appetite
noun
ap·pe·tite ˈa-pə-ˌtīt 
1
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
He has a hearty appetite.
2
a
: an inherent craving
an insatiable appetite for work
b
: taste, preference
… the cultural appetites of the time …
J. D. Hart
J. D. Hart appetitive
ˈa-pə-ˌtī-tiv
adjective 
Synonyms
- belly
- emptiness
- famishment
- hunger
- munchies
- stomach
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He has a healthy appetite. Some common symptoms are tiredness, nausea, and loss of appetite. I had no appetite and couldn't sleep.
Recent Examples on the Web Valley restaurants are gearing up for the fall edition of Arizona Restaurant Week, with 130 restaurants vying for your appetite and attention. Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 Your letter implies that your husband’s insatiable appetite and petulant attitude weren’t really an issue before you actually got married. Wayne And Wanda, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 Make note of symptoms such as wheezing, drooling, vomiting, bleeding, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, chest discomfort, coughing, choking or gagging, decreased appetite or refusal to eat, or fever. Elizabeth Chang, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2022 Her father, a judge, was often away at work, and her mother, occupied with caring for her and her older brother, worried over her timid appetite and weak constitution. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 Canine parvovirus spreads through fecal matter and includes symptoms such tiredness, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Greg Norman, Fox News, 26 Aug. 2022 Authorities injected the all-white Beluga with vitamins Saturday in hopes of reviving its appetite and strength. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022 In both cases, irritability, decreased appetite and pain, redness or swelling at or around the injection site were observed. Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland, 21 June 2022 See More
Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 Your letter implies that your husband’s insatiable appetite and petulant attitude weren’t really an issue before you actually got married. Wayne And Wanda, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 Make note of symptoms such as wheezing, drooling, vomiting, bleeding, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, chest discomfort, coughing, choking or gagging, decreased appetite or refusal to eat, or fever. Elizabeth Chang, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2022 Her father, a judge, was often away at work, and her mother, occupied with caring for her and her older brother, worried over her timid appetite and weak constitution. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 Canine parvovirus spreads through fecal matter and includes symptoms such tiredness, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Greg Norman, Fox News, 26 Aug. 2022 Authorities injected the all-white Beluga with vitamins Saturday in hopes of reviving its appetite and strength. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022 In both cases, irritability, decreased appetite and pain, redness or swelling at or around the injection site were observed. Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland, 21 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English apetit, from Anglo-French, from Latin appetitus, from appetere to strive after, from ad- + petere to go to — more at feather
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing appetite
Kids Definition
appetite
noun
ap·pe·tite ˈa-pə-ˌtīt
1
: a natural desire especially for food
2
: a desire or liking for something
an appetite for adventure
Medical Definition
appetite
noun
ap·pe·tite ˈap-ə-ˌtīt
: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life
especially : the desire to eat
appetite
noun
1
as in hunger
a need or desire for food don't eat before dinner, as it will spoil your appetite Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hunger
- stomach
- craving
- starvation
- munchies
- emptiness
- voracity
- greed
- rapacity
- belly
- voraciousness
- ravenousness
- famishment
- malnutrition
- undernourishment
- gluttony
- famine
- rapaciousness
- fast
- sweet tooth
- hunger strike
- hoggishness
- gourmandism
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- satiety
- satiation
- satisfaction
- inappetence
- fullness
- surfeit
- glut
- repletion
- fill
- repleteness
2
as in craving
a strong wish for something an appetite for adventure Synonyms & Similar Words
- craving
- thirst
- desire
- hunger
- urge
- longing
- passion
- lust
- taste
- yearning
- hankering
- appetency
- thirstiness
- yen
- itch
- pining
- zeal
- compulsion
- jones
- drive
- impulse
- wish
- eagerness
- liking
- impatience
- letch
- love
- weakness
- need
- obsession
- requirement
- will
- impulsion
- greed
- avarice
- avidity
- rapacity
- necessity
- greediness
- acquisitiveness
- cupidity
- mania
- want
- covetousness
- rapaciousness
- avariciousness
- cacoëthes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nausea
- hatred
- disgust
- revulsion
- distaste
- aversion
- allergy
- repugnance
- repulsion
- loathing
- abhorrence
- disinclination
- dislike
- indifference
- abomination
- apathy
- averseness
- disfavor
- disliking
- unconcern
- nonchalance
- insouciance
3
as in liking
positive regard for something he has expensive appetites Synonyms & Similar Words
- liking
- like
- craving
- taste
- thirst
- preference
- enthusiasm
- desire
- love
- fondness
- tendency
- use
- relish
- interest
- fancy
- partiality
- longing
- favor
- love affair
- shine
- yen
- inclination
- weakness
- tooth
- passion
- gusto
- prejudice
- palate
- propensity
- hankering
- bias
- bent
- leaning
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hatred
- disgust
- distaste
- aversion
- loathing
- dislike
- apathy
- indifference
- disinclination
- disfavor
- mislike
- unconcern
4
as in thirst
urgent desire or interest an athlete with an appetite for in-your-face competition Synonyms & Similar Words
- thirst
- enthusiasm
- hunger
- excitement
- eagerness
- impatience
- lust
- desirousness
- avidity
- ardor
- ambition
- keenness
- passion
- avidness
- zeal
- readiness
- quickness
- gusto
- zest
- alacrity
- willingness
- warmth
- appetence
- appetency
- fervency
- amenability
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifference
- apathy
- unconcern
- insouciance
- nonchalance
- casualness
- languor
- aloofness
- detachment
- impassivity
- lukewarmness
- languidness
- halfheartedness
- gave in
- gave in (to)
- gave in to
- gave me the brush-off
- gave notice
- gave of
- gave off
- gave one the creeps
- gave one the gate
- gave one's word
- gave out
- gave over
- gave over (to)
- gave over to
- gave rise to
- gave the lie to
- gave the third degree to
- gave up
- gave up (to)
- gave up the ghost
- gave up to
- gave way
- gave way (to)
- gave way to
- gavel