What does appetite mean?
Appetite refers to a natural desire or urge to satisfy a need, most commonly the desire for food. A person with a good appetite eats heartily; illness, stress, or medication can cause someone to lose their appetite. Beyond eating, the word extends figuratively to any strong liking or hunger for something — an appetite for knowledge, adventure, power, or gossip. In this broader sense it conveys enthusiasm and drive, though it can also hint at insatiability or excess. The word derives from Latin appetere, meaning 'to strive toward', which explains its sense of reaching eagerly for something. Common expressions such as 'whet the appetite' (to stimulate interest) show how deeply embedded it is in English. Appetite is a versatile, neutral-register noun useful for describing both bodily cravings and intellectual or emotional hungers, making it valuable in writing that ranges from cookery and health to politics and culture.
nounA natural desire or craving to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food; more broadly, a strong liking or enthusiasm for something.
- A physical desire or craving for food.
- A strong liking, enthusiasm, or demand for something non-physical (e.g. an appetite for knowledge, power, or risk).
"The sea air gave her a hearty appetite, and she devoured the entire meal."
"After the long hike, everyone sat down to dinner with a ravenous appetite."
"The scandal only sharpened the public's appetite for details about the senator's finances."
The plural typically refers to the desires of multiple people, or collectively to varied desires of one person (e.g. 'his appetites' for food, drink, and pleasure).
"The restaurant caters to a wide range of appetites, from light salads to hearty roasts."
Appetite comes from Latin appetere — 'to strive after' — making it a cousin of 'compete': both words are about reaching eagerly for something.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of appetite
Appetite comes from Latin appetitus, derived from appetere, meaning 'to strive after' or 'to seek eagerly'. The word entered English via Old French apétit in the medieval period, initially carrying broad senses of desire before becoming strongly associated with hunger for food. It shares its Latin root with words such as petition and compete, all of which involve striving or seeking toward something.
How appetite is actually used
Appetite is neutral in register and appears in both everyday and formal contexts. When applied to non-food desires ('an appetite for work'), it often carries a slightly figurative tone and can suggest intensity or even excess. The verb form 'to appetite' does not exist in standard English; related verbs include whet (as in 'whet the appetite').
Easily confused with appetite
Appetence is a rare term for an instinctive attraction or inclination toward something, whereas appetite is the common word for a desire to eat or a general enthusiasm.