regale
Americanverb (used with object)
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to entertain lavishly or agreeably; delight.
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to entertain with choice food or drink.
verb (used without object)
noun
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Rare. a sumptuous feast.
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Archaic. a choice article of food or drink.
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Archaic. refreshment.
verb
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to give delight or amusement to
he regaled them with stories of his youth
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to provide with choice or abundant food or drink
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has regaledperfect 3rd person singular
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have regaledperfect
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have been regalingperfect progressive
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is regalingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been regalingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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regalingparticiple
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are regalingprogressive
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regalessingular 3rd person
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am regalingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had regaledperfect
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had been regalingperfect progressive
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were regalingprogressive plural
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was regalingprogressive singular
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regaledsimple
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regaledparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of regale
First recorded in 1650–60; from French régaler, derivative of régal(e), Old French rigale, derivative of gale “festivity” (with prefix of rigoler “to amuse oneself”), derivative of galer “to make merry”; see gallant
Explanation
You may have heard it said that the fastest way to a person’s heart is through his stomach. So, if you need to please or impress someone, regale them — that is, treat them to lavish food and drink. While food is a reliable way to regale someone, regale can also involve providing forms of entertainment such as music or storytelling. Regale is akin to the word gala, meaning “a festive party,” and gallant, which can mean “spirited and adventurous” (though gallant can also mean “noble and brave”). If you regale someone with a gala attended by partygoers who are gallant, in either sense of the word, everyone should have a pretty good time.
Vocabulary lists containing regale
The Martian
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Oliver Twist
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Unbroken
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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.
At the end of the hearing, committee members agreed to meet in a secure facility on Wednesday afternoon to hear Mullin regale them with his tales of daring from a decade ago.
From Slate • Mar. 18, 2026
But first, he has to regale his teammates of the tale of getting Aaron Judge out.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Neely knew every great hole-in-the-wall breakfast and lunch joint in Los Angeles, where he would regale friends and colleagues with his infectious sense of humor.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2023
In the meantime, Dottie will regale the team, the pub and pretty much anyone else within earshot with substantially exaggerated tales of Ted’s youth.
From New York Times • May 24, 2023
The dwarf’s sudden silence went unnoticed, as Duck had begun to regale him with his own life story.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
