appetizer

noun

Definition of appetizernext
as in snack
a small dish of food served before the main part of a meal Shrimp with cocktail sauce were served as an appetizer.

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of appetizer Breakfast, Turkish coffee, kebab lunch plates, mezze appetizers and Iraqi-style entrees. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026 After the appetizers, waiters arrived in unison to lift silver cloches and reveal blushes, and eyeliners appeared once the main course was cleared. — Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026 Kumiko Room will serve just three such appetizers, followed by 10 to 14 pieces of sushi, soup, and one dessert. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026 This adorable serving bowl is a fun way to serve Halloween appetizers at your next party. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for appetizer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appetizer
  1. snack
  2. taste
  3. bite
  4. mouthful
Noun
  • Hidden at the back of the dining room, along the wall of Japanese pantry products and behind a display of snacks is a narrow display of bento.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The cafe, inside the gift shop, offers simple snacks, coffee, and sandwiches—best to skip it and dine elsewhere in the area.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of snack
Noun
  • The Wine Lounge offers a taste of both the wines and olive oils that are made on-site, with winery tours available for those who want to go a bit deeper into the inner workings of the wine-making process.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Song aesthetic therefore occupies a distinctive place in the history of Chinese taste.
    — Li Jun, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of taste
Noun
  • The pilots informed air traffic controllers ahead of landing that one person had a bloody nose and another person had bite marks and requested that medical personnel be waiting at the gate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The mild sweetness of onions pairs naturally with tallow’s savory character, and when fried at the right temperature the coating turns crisp and golden without the onions losing their tender bite.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Tall Paul said through an outraged mouthful of banoffee doughnut.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of red meat.
    — Dylan Lovan, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of mouthful

Browse Nearby Words

appetites
appetizer
appetizers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appetizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appetizer. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on appetizer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about appetizer

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All