appetizing

A1P3P3E1T1I1Z10I1N1G2
UK/ˈæp.ə.taɪz.ɪŋ/

adjective

That appeals to, or stimulates the appetite.

“This food looks so appetizing.”

Opposite
UncommonScrabble 24

Meanings

adjectiveappetizing (comparative more appetizing, superlative most appetizing)

comparative more appetizing · superlative most appetizing · alternative appetising

  1. That appeals to, or stimulates the appetite.

    This food looks so appetizing.

    1 more example

    The appearance of the wild ducks is very appetizing.

    1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC
  2. broadlyAppealing or enticing.
nounappetizing (usually uncountable, plural appetizings)

plural appetizings · alternative appetising

  1. uncountableusuallyany food traditionally eaten with a bagel, as an accompaniment, topping or filling; including dairy products and pareve but not meat

    And of all the foods that are represented in the city, perhaps none has remained so tied to Jewish tradition and identity as appetizings.

    2019 January 23, Yamit Behar Wood, “The Appetizing World of Murray’s”, in Jewish Journal
    1 more example

    Alina Sheffi, a slicer at Russ & Daughters, stands at her usual spot in the long, narrow space behind the glass display case full of cream cheese, sides of lox, pickled herring, white fish, schmaltz, and all other manner of appetizing.

    2020 November 11, Joshua David Stein, “Good-bye to the Lox Sherpa of Russ & Daughters”, in Grub Street
verb

alternative appetising

  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of appetize

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveappealing to or stimulating the appetite especially in appearance or aroma

Opposite

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Frenchappétissant
  2. Englishappetizing

Calque of French appétissant, French -ant being equivalent to -ing. See also appetite

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian апетитен, привлекателен
  • апетитен (apetiten)that appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • привлекателен (privlekatelen)that appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Catalan apetitós
  • apetitósthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Chinese Mandarin 開胃 /开胃
  • 開胃 /开胃 (kāiwèi)that appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Finnish herkullinen, maittava
  • herkullinenthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • maittavathat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
French appétissant
  • appétissantthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
German appetitanregend
  • appetitanregendthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Hungarian étvágygerjesztő, ínycsiklandó
  • étvágygerjesztőthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • ínycsiklandóthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Irish goiliúil, blasta
  • goiliúilthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • blastathat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • cumhrathat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • neamúilthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Italian vespigno
  • vespignothat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Latin gulōsus
  • gulōsusthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Māori whakawaiwai, hāhā
  • whakawaiwaithat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • hāhāthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Polish apetyczny
  • apetycznythat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Portuguese apetitoso
  • apetitosothat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Russian аппети́тный
  • аппети́тный (appetítnyj)that appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Spanish apetitoso, apetecible
  • apetitosothat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • apeteciblethat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • apetitivothat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • apetecedorthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Swedish aptitretande
  • aptitretandethat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Turkish iştahlandırıcı, iştah açıcı
  • iştahlandırıcıthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
  • iştah açıcıthat appeals to, or stimulates the appetite
Cite this entry
APA

appetizing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/appetizing

MLA

“appetizing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/appetizing. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “appetizing,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/appetizing.

Source: appetizing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.