C1 noun Neutral

appetite

/ˈæp.ə.taɪt/

Appetite refers to a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, most commonly for food. In a broader sense, it describes a strong desire or liking for a specific activity, experience, or object, such as power or knowledge.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The long walk in the fresh air gave us all a healthy appetite for lunch.

The long walk in the fresh air gave us all a healthy appetite for lunch.

2

The government has expressed a limited appetite for further tax increases this year.

The government has expressed a limited appetite for further tax increases this year.

3

I've totally lost my appetite since I started feeling under the weather.

I've totally lost my appetite since I started feeling under the weather.

Word Family

Noun
appetite
Verb
appetize
Adverb
appetizingly
Adjective
appetizing
Related
appetizer
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'pet' in appetite: you are seeking (from Latin 'petere') something to satisfy you, like a pet seeking a treat.

Quick Quiz

The short preview of the movie was intended to ______ the audience's appetite for the full release.

Correct!

The correct answer is: whet

Examples

1

The long walk in the fresh air gave us all a healthy appetite for lunch.

everyday

The long walk in the fresh air gave us all a healthy appetite for lunch.

2

The government has expressed a limited appetite for further tax increases this year.

formal

The government has expressed a limited appetite for further tax increases this year.

3

I've totally lost my appetite since I started feeling under the weather.

informal

I've totally lost my appetite since I started feeling under the weather.

4

The study explores the public appetite for radical changes in environmental policy.

academic

The study explores the public appetite for radical changes in environmental policy.

5

The firm’s risk appetite has decreased following the recent market volatility.

business

The firm’s risk appetite has decreased following the recent market volatility.

Word Family

Noun
appetite
Verb
appetize
Adverb
appetizingly
Adjective
appetizing
Related
appetizer

Common Collocations

whet one's appetite to increase someone's desire for something
insatiable appetite a desire that is impossible to satisfy
risk appetite the level of risk an entity is willing to accept
lose one's appetite to no longer feel like eating or pursuing something
voracious appetite a very large or eager desire for food or information

Common Phrases

appetite for destruction

a tendency or desire to ruin things

spoil one's appetite

to eat something that makes you less hungry for a main meal

appetite comes with eating

the more you have of something, the more you want it

Often Confused With

appetite vs hunger

Hunger is the physical distress caused by a lack of food, while appetite is the psychological or sensory desire to eat.

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Usage Notes

While 'appetite' is frequently used regarding food, at the C1 level it is vital to use it metaphorically to describe professional or intellectual eagerness, often followed by the preposition 'for'.

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Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'appetite of' instead of 'appetite for'. Additionally, 'whet the appetite' is often misspelled as 'wet the appetite'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'pet' in appetite: you are seeking (from Latin 'petere') something to satisfy you, like a pet seeking a treat.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'apetit', and originally from the Latin 'appetitus' (desire for), which combines 'ad-' (to) and 'petere' (to seek).

Grammar Patterns

Usually a countable noun (e.g., 'a huge appetite') Followed by the preposition 'for' Used uncountably in abstract business terms like 'risk appetite'
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Cultural Context

In Western business culture, 'risk appetite' is a formal technical term used in finance and corporate governance to define strategic boundaries.

Quick Quiz

The short preview of the movie was intended to ______ the audience's appetite for the full release.

Correct!

The correct answer is: whet

Related Words

posttortship

C1

The state or period following the commission of a civil wrong (tort), specifically concerning the legal obligations, remedial processes, and the ongoing relationship between the claimant and the tortfeasor. It describes the phase where parties must navigate the consequences of a legal injury or liability.

pretheent

C1

To pretheent is to establish or articulate a necessary precondition or foundational assumption before proceeding with a formal argument, technical process, or complex theory. It involves identifying the essential 'pre-theory' groundwork required for a subsequent logic to hold true.

monomagnacy

C1

To consolidate diverse powers, resources, or influences into a single, dominant entity or focus. It describes the active process of achieving singular control or magnifying a single objective above all others.

nonponor

C1

Describes an entity, role, or process that remains inactive or does not perform a specific required action within a system. It is often used in administrative or technical contexts to differentiate between active participants and those who are passive or non-contributing.

subfractate

C1

A subfractate is a secondary or minor division within a larger fracture, typically referring to a microscopic or subsidiary crack in geological or material structures. It describes the state of a substance that has undergone partial fragmentation without completely separating from the main body.

contraphotoess

C1

Describing a subject, material, or individual that is inherently resistant to being captured clearly on film or digital sensors. This can be due to physical light-deflecting properties or a deliberate, psychological avoidance of being photographed.

anteplicize

C1

To fold or arrange something in layers in advance of a main process or assembly. It is primarily used in technical, textile, or structural contexts to describe a specific preparatory layering technique.

inpathtion

C1

Describing a state, component, or data point that exists or occurs strictly within a designated trajectory or predefined sequence. It characterizes elements that are functionally integrated into a linear process rather than being external or peripheral to it.

dishabment

C1

Describing a state of being untidily or partially dressed, often suggesting a sense of negligent ease or emotional disarray. It characterizes an appearance that lacks the usual polish, formality, or structural neatness expected in a social or professional setting.

subjectable

C1

To be capable of being placed under or made to undergo a particular action, process, or condition. It describes the state of being liable or open to certain treatments or influences, such as legal scrutiny or scientific testing.

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