luxuriate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to enjoy oneself without stint; revel.
to luxuriate in newly acquired wealth.
-
to grow fully or abundantly; thrive.
The plants luxuriated in the new soil.
verb
-
(foll by in) to take voluptuous pleasure; revel
-
to flourish extensively or profusely
-
to live in a sumptuous way
Other Word Forms
- luxuriation noun
- unluxuriating adjective
Etymology
Origin of luxuriate
1615–25; < Latin luxuriātus, past participle of luxuriāre. See luxuriant, -ate 1
Explanation
To luxuriate is to enjoy yourself extravagantly or to an extreme degree. Luxuriate can also mean to thrive, like a plant that grows wildly. A luxury is something expensive and unnecessary, like eating at a fancy restaurant. To luxuriate is to enjoy yourself in a similar way, not necessarily by spending a lot, but by enjoying something to the fullest. Lying in the sun for hours is luxuriating. Reading in the bookstore for hours is luxuriating. Also, luxuriating is a type of prosperous growth. A banana tree that yields a lot of bananas is luxuriating: it's thriving and growing.
Vocabulary lists containing luxuriate
The Diary of Anne Frank
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 1: Telling Details
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 1: Telling Details
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They wait for hours to luxuriate in the atmosphere—and Grant Mohwinkel’s chemistry.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
There’s no evidence that this generation intends to make pining their only romantic activity; it’s more that they are very content, at the moment, to luxuriate in the many conduits for yearning available to them.
From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026
It’s about creating spaces where LGBTQ+ people can be visible but also feel safe to be in community, a moment to live without fear and luxuriate in collective joy.
From Slate • Jun. 2, 2025
They offer a vacation destination for the mind, a world in which to luxuriate.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2025
Even as I luxuriate in the future this way, rolling anticipation around in my mouth, I think of something else.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.