appetizer
noun
ap·pe·tiz·er
ˈa-pə-ˌtī-zər 
1
: a food or drink that stimulates the appetite and is usually served before a meal
The appetizers included shrimp with cocktail sauce, vegetables and dips, cheeses, and fruits.
2
: something that stimulates a desire for more
a literary appetizer
hoped that the short trip would be an appetizer for longer ones
Examples of appetizer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s sort of the appetizer for Staley’s sandbag drill, which puts 35-pound sandbags in each running back’s hands for three reps of short-area footwork, each covering about a minute.
—
Zac Jackson, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The meal began with a variety of appetizers including tuna, beef tartare, lobster and asparagus, and followed with lamb for the main course, Jin said, noting security watched from the bar throughout the dinner.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 30 July 2025
It’s set for 5 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Redwood Grove at Saratoga Springs in Saratoga, with a menu that includes homemade appetizers, a barbecue buffet dinner, dessert and hosted beer and wine.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 29 July 2025
The cafe itself is equipped with a full kitchen and an extensive (though pricey) menu, including pastries and sweets to-go, drinks, appetizers and desserts.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for appetizer
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Zac Jackson, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The meal began with a variety of appetizers including tuna, beef tartare, lobster and asparagus, and followed with lamb for the main course, Jin said, noting security watched from the bar throughout the dinner.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 30 July 2025
It’s set for 5 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Redwood Grove at Saratoga Springs in Saratoga, with a menu that includes homemade appetizers, a barbecue buffet dinner, dessert and hosted beer and wine.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 29 July 2025
The cafe itself is equipped with a full kitchen and an extensive (though pricey) menu, including pastries and sweets to-go, drinks, appetizers and desserts.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for appetizer
Cite this Entry
“Appetizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appetizer. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
appetizer
noun
ap·pe·tiz·er
ˈap-ə-ˌtī-zər
1
: a food or drink usually served before a meal to make one hungrier
2
: something that creates a desire for more
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