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

Trivia companies have capitalized by hosting contests, giving superfans an excuse to indulge their obsession.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Flick didn’t indulge in telling any of the “cowboys-in-airplanes stories” he’d heard during his nearly 40 years at the center.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 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

The sight of a beaming Pep Guardiola pumping his fists to all sides of Etihad Stadium then telling his players to indulge in cocktails demonstrated the magnitude of this Manchester City victory.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

There was nothing of charity in it and she did not step lightly around his heart or indulge his sorrow or his whims.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

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