indulge

American  

[in-duhlj] / ɪnˈdʌldʒ /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See humor.

Other Word Forms

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

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.

Example Sentences

He has also been able to indulge his passion for football, working with the Scotland national team and his beloved Patrick Thistle.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

That being said, the project did give the on-screen star an opportunity to indulge in one of her greatest personal passions—interior design, something that she has long said is one of her favorite creative outlets.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

At the end, we’re left to indulge in our contemporary myths about the samurai, knowing that these are built on far older ones.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

She couldn’t stop herself from stealing a peek at the school conductor’s score, copying bowings and poring over the details, but she didn’t indulge any dreams of taking the podium herself.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

They would turn their backs on her, her mother, the policemen, her brother, and go off with Robbie Turner to indulge some adult cabal.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

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