appetite
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 5The 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.
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.
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
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
The long walk in the fresh air gave us all a healthy appetite for lunch.
everydayThe long walk in the fresh air gave us all a healthy appetite for lunch.
The government has expressed a limited appetite for further tax increases this year.
formalThe government has expressed a limited appetite for further tax increases this year.
I've totally lost my appetite since I started feeling under the weather.
informalI've totally lost my appetite since I started feeling under the weather.
The study explores the public appetite for radical changes in environmental policy.
academicThe study explores the public appetite for radical changes in environmental policy.
The firm’s risk appetite has decreased following the recent market volatility.
businessThe firm’s risk appetite has decreased following the recent market volatility.
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
Hunger is the physical distress caused by a lack of food, while appetite is the psychological or sensory desire to eat.
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'.
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
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 Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
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