indulge

[in-duhlj]

verb (used without object)

indulged, indulging 

1. to yield to an inclination or desire; allow oneself to follow one's will (often followed byin ).

   Dessert came, but I didn't indulge.

   They indulged in unbelievable shopping sprees.

verb (used with object)

indulged, indulging 

1. to yield to, satisfy, or gratify (desires, feelings, etc.).

   to indulge one's appetite for sweets.

2. to yield to the wishes or whims of; be lenient or permissive with.

   to indulge a child.

   Synonyms: favor, pamper

3. to allow (oneself ) to follow one's will (usually followed byin ).

   to indulge oneself in reckless spending.

4. Commerce.,  to grant an extension of time, for payment or performance, to (a person, company, etc.) or on (a bill, note, etc.).

indulge

/ ɪnˈdʌldʒ /

verb

1. to yield to or gratify (a whim or desire for)

   to indulge a desire for new clothes

   to indulge in new clothes

2. (tr) to yield to the wishes of; pamper

   to indulge a child

3. (tr) to allow oneself the pleasure of something

   at Christmas he liked to indulge himself

4. (tr) commerce to allow (a debtor) an extension of time for payment of (a bill, etc)

5. informal,  (intr) to take alcoholic drink, esp to excess

Other Word Forms

• indulger noun
• preindulge verb (used with object)
• quasi-indulged adjective
• reindulge verb
• unindulged adjective
• indulgingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of indulge¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin indulgēre “to be lenient toward, to accede, to take pleasure in”

Word History and Origins

Origin of indulge¹

C17: from Latin indulgēre to concede, from -dulgēre, probably related to Greek dolikhos long, Gothic tulgus firm

Synonym Study

See humor.

Example Sentences

I’m a bit of a neat freak, and now that I live on my own, I can indulge my tendencies.

From Los Angeles Times

One hates to indulge hoary ideas about happiness being bad for songwriters.

From Los Angeles Times

Rejecting calls for a wealth tax and increases in borrowing to fund government spending, Sir Keir said he would not "cast off the constraints and indulge in ideological fantasy".

From BBC

But it’s fair to say that Reagan never indulged in outright name-calling or hateful invective, stressed his desire for negotiation over confrontation and left the nuclear saber-rattling to subordinates.

From Salon

Shatner also opened up about his health in his caption for the meme: “I over indulged. I thank you all for caring but I’m perfectly fine.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• entertain 
• nourish 
• pamper 
• satiate 
• satisfy 
• spoil 
• take care of 
• tickle