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

Because we have survived as a nation for nearly 2½ centuries, we can indulge in the luxury of celebrating our multicultural diversity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Their study suggests that the mouth-on-mouth kiss evolved more than 21 million years ago, and was something that the common ancestor of humans and other great apes probably indulged in.

Read more on BBC

Then there’s the question: Is China willing to indulge Mr. Putin’s forever war?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But Penelope longed to shore up her spirits after that humiliating conversation with Lady Constance and the failed pretend-letter to Simon, and so she decided to indulge herself.

Read more on Literature

Aside from a simple charcuterie board, my favorite way to indulge in fresh pears is by caramelizing them.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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