appetite
AP-uh-tyte
/ˈæp.ə.taɪt/
A natural psychological desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.
Appetite is psychological and desire-driven, whereas hunger is the biological, physical urge caused by lack of food.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'appetitus', meaning 'passionate desire or longing', derived from 'adpetere' ('to strive after' or 'seek to hit', composed of 'ad-' to + 'petere' to seek/head for). It entered Old French as 'apetit' before settling into Middle English.
Word relationships
- desire: Desire can apply to anything (wealth, fame), while appetite specifically centers on physical cravings like food.
- craving: A craving is an intense, specific urge for a particular food item, whereas appetite is a general desire to eat.
- anorexia: Clinical loss or lack of appetite.
- satiety: The state of feeling full and completely satisfied after eating.
Commonly confused with
- hunger: Hunger is physiological stomach discomfort needing energy; appetite is psychological desire for food.
Word family
- appetizing (adjective): Appealing to the appetite; inviting.
- appetizer (noun): A small dish served before a meal to stimulate hunger.
Collocations
- suppress appetite
- stimulate appetite
- loss of appetite
- healthy appetite
Idioms & expressions
- whet one's appetite (to increase desire for something)
- lose one's appetite
Example sentences
- "Good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both!" Classic Literature (William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', 1606)
- "A walk in the fresh air before dinner often stimulates a healthy appetite." Health and wellness
Memory hook
APPETITE makes you PETITION (petere) for a plate of food. Appetite = Seeking food
When not to use
Do not confuse appetite (desire) with hunger (physiological distress due to empty stomach).
Fun facts
- The hormone ghrelin is often dubbed the 'appetite hormone' because it signals your brain that it is time to eat.
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