indulge
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to yield to, satisfy, or gratify (desires, feelings, etc.).
to indulge one's appetite for sweets.
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to yield to the wishes or whims of; be lenient or permissive with.
to indulge a child.
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to allow (oneself ) to follow one's will (usually followed byin ).
to indulge oneself in reckless spending.
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Commerce. to grant an extension of time, for payment or performance, to (a person, company, etc.) or on (a bill, note, etc.).
verb
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to yield to or gratify (a whim or desire for)
to indulge a desire for new clothes
to indulge in new clothes
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(tr) to yield to the wishes of; pamper
to indulge a child
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(tr) to allow oneself the pleasure of something
at Christmas he liked to indulge himself
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(tr) commerce to allow (a debtor) an extension of time for payment of (a bill, etc)
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informal (intr) to take alcoholic drink, esp to excess
Synonym Usage
See humor.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unindulgedadjective
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indulginglyadverb
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preindulgeverb (used with object)
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reindulgeverb
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quasi-indulgedadjective
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indulgernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have indulgedperfect
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has indulgedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been indulgingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is indulgingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am indulgingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been indulgingperfect progressive
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are indulgingprogressive
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indulgingparticiple
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indulgessingular 3rd person
Past
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had indulgedperfect
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were indulgingprogressive plural
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had been indulgingperfect progressive
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indulgedparticiple
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was indulgingprogressive singular
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indulgedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of indulge
First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin indulgēre “to be lenient toward, to accede, to take pleasure in”
Explanation
Indulge is a verb that means "to give in to something," like when you indulge your craving for chocolate by eating a big piece of it. The original meaning of indulge is "to treat with unearned favor." That's why it doesn't mean the same as reward. Instead, when you indulge, you enjoy or take part in something just because you want to — like indulging in a celebrity gossip magazine: you know you should be doing something more constructive, but you don't care. When you indulge someone else, you go along with whatever they want to do.
Vocabulary lists containing indulge
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 12–15
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Starting Your New Life: Inspiring Words from Commencement Speeches
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He has advocated for removing homeless people from the streets, including with involuntary, temporary psychiatric holds, and said the city should “not perpetuate and indulge their addiction.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
He brought a pair of binoculars with him so he could indulge his love of stargazing.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
You’ll need to pay up ahead of time if you’d like to indulge in a measly packet of Biscoff cookies or extra salty pretzels.
From Salon • May 7, 2026
They gather with friends and acquaintances, indulge in a nice bottle of wine and well-curated snacks, gossip a bit and maybe, just maybe, talk about the book selection of the month.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
It’s a helpful distraction, so for a while I indulge it.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
