splurge

American  

[splurj] / splɜrdʒ /

verb (used without object)

• splurges,
  present (3rd person singular)
• splurged,
  past participle,  past
• splurging
  present participle

1. to indulge oneself in some luxury or pleasure, especially a costly one.

   They splurged on a trip to Europe.

2. to show off.

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verb (used with object)

• splurges,
  present (3rd person singular)
• splurged,
  past participle,  past
• splurging
  present participle

1. to spend (money) lavishly or ostentatiously.

   He splurged thousands on the party.

noun

• splurges
  plural

1. an ostentatious display, especially an extravagantly expensive one.

   Synonyms:

   spree, indulgence

splurge British  

/ splɜːdʒ /

noun

1. an ostentatious display, esp of wealth

2. a bout of unrestrained extravagance

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verb

1. (often foll by on) to spend (money) unrestrainedly or extravagantly

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• splurgy
  adjective
• splurgily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• splurges
  plural

Participles

• splurging
  present
• splurged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• splurge
  simple
• splurges
  simple
• have splurged
  perfect
• has splurged
  perfect
• am splurging
  progressive
• are splurging
  progressive
• is splurging
  progressive
• have been splurging
  perfect progressive
• has been splurging
  perfect progressive

Past

• splurged
  simple
• had splurged
  perfect
• was splurging
  progressive
• were splurging
  progressive
• had been splurging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will splurge
  simple
• will have splurged
  perfect
• will be splurging
  progressive
• will have been splurging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of splurge

1820–30, perhaps blend of splash and surge

Explanation

To splurge is to indulge yourself. You can also go on a splurge if you spend a lot or act extravagantly in another way. Anyone might have a cupcake. If you have 10 cupcakes, that's a splurge. When you go on a splurge or are splurging, it usually applies to money. Splurging happens when you see a lot of things you want — or even one very expensive thing — and buy it, even though you might not be able to afford it. When you splurge, you're going wild in some way. A splurge is sometimes called a binge.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

splurge splurges splurged splurging

The Times reports that the government will conduct a "borrowing splurge in bid to boost economy".

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

After an initial splurge on travel and entertainment, retirees are often lulled into a sense of complacency because their spending tends to decrease during the first decade after leaving the workforce.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Those restaurants serve elevated fare with price tags to match, but you don’t have to splurge on tasting menus to eat well.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

The salon is PS speak for the lounge area for passengers like me who didn’t splurge on one of its suites.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

“We shouldn’t be bleaching any more palm oil. We should splurge on vegetable oil for these last few weeks,” Obiora said, still swatting at the flies.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A lack of updating, rising mall rents and splurges on new businesses weakened its business until it declared bankruptcy in 2014.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Despite the sticker shock, therapists and financial experts say such splurges could be worth it, as long as it’s something you can afford and it holds significant value for you.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026

Wolfram says his family splurges on a cabana so they have a base for the day and don’t have to navigate Nassau with a big group, including his parents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026

Marcel Thieliant at Capital Economics added that he did not expect Takaichi to embark on any new major spending splurges or tax cuts.

From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026

Hence it is that most histories are mere registers of names and dates, dull or highly-colored hackneyed splurges of print giving no insight into actual conditions.

From Great Fortunes from Railroads by Gustavus Myers

The suburban Philadelphia family splurged on tickets to seven matches—five of which all four of the family members will attend.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Knocking on for £40m - maybe more - has been splurged on transfer and loan fees.

From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026

The Dodgers also splurged in December by signing former New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz to a $69 million three-year deal, making him the highest paid closer in baseball.

From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026

So, when the Dodgers splurged last winter, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner offered a measured response.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026

The Francophone Foundation has splurged on accommodations for the prize winners.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

Baby boomers are splurging on travel with a vengeance, looking to see as much of the world as they can.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

In Scottish terms, Rangers' American owners have spent colossal money, splurging tens of millions on the creation of a team, and an environment, that can win a league and do something in Europe.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

It’s also unclear why she chose a five-star resort for the splurging, given her discomfort with everything from the menu on down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Sure, some attendees may be splurging thousands on a single ticket, but others are getting nothing at all, even after traveling across international borders for games.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

She did not want to be the only one splurging.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez