regale
Americanverb (used with object)
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regales,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regaled,
past participle, past
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regaling
present participle
-
to entertain lavishly or agreeably; delight.
-
to entertain with choice food or drink.
verb (used without object)
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regales,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regaled,
past participle, past
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regaling
present participle
noun
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Rare. a sumptuous feast.
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Archaic. a choice article of food or drink.
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Archaic. refreshment.
verb
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to give delight or amusement to
he regaled them with stories of his youth
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to provide with choice or abundant food or drink
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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regalesimple
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regalessimple
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have regaledperfect
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has regaledperfect
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am regalingprogressive
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are regalingprogressive
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is regalingprogressive
-
have been regalingperfect progressive
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has been regalingperfect progressive
Past
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regaledsimple
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had regaledperfect
-
was regalingprogressive
-
were regalingprogressive
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had been regalingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of regale
First recorded in 1650–60; from French régaler, derivative of régal(e), Old French rigale, derivative of gale “festivity” (with prefix of rigoler “to amuse oneself”), derivative of galer “to make merry”; see gallant
Explanation
You may have heard it said that the fastest way to a person’s heart is through his stomach. So, if you need to please or impress someone, regale them — that is, treat them to lavish food and drink. While food is a reliable way to regale someone, regale can also involve providing forms of entertainment such as music or storytelling. Regale is akin to the word gala, meaning “a festive party,” and gallant, which can mean “spirited and adventurous” (though gallant can also mean “noble and brave”). If you regale someone with a gala attended by partygoers who are gallant, in either sense of the word, everyone should have a pretty good time.
Vocabulary lists containing regale
The Martian
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Oliver Twist
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Unbroken
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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.
See Examples For:
Overhearing them, the dentist left a patient in the chair to regale them with his market winnings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
More astounding, he managed to persuade Sondheim, the show’s lyricist, to regale an awe-struck high school drama club with anecdotes about his missteps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2025
Dan Kois is here to regale us with stories from a different era.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2023
In the meantime, Dottie will regale the team, the pub and pretty much anyone else within earshot with substantially exaggerated tales of Ted’s youth.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2023
I could regale you with tales of how we had great fun on the trip, but I won't.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
The show’s narrator and singer regales guests with tales of how different Latin countries present stories of Santa Claus, or, say, the joy of unwrapping a tamale.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025
When he sits down with his haddock and regales the eager cadets with stories of his biggest professional successes, he is putting up a front.
From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2023
Try as he might to squelch them, Joel's paternal urges rise up to meet her playfulness when she regales him with puns or teases him for his seriousness.
From Salon ● Mar. 6, 2023
When home, the boy regales him with stories about his new school.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
Dylan has hijacked the spotlight as he regales his “tale of a young man who flipped off Death” to Ethan and Arthur and gives them tips on how they can also “escape Death’s clutches.”
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
He regaled me with many wonderful stories of them during their early years on the road.
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026
On a visit to Samar midway through his training, Horbenko regaled relatives with stories of his training, showing video clips from the shooting ground.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
Attempting to explain away what had happened, Watson regaled the courtroom with "Leave It to Beaver"-style stories of his upbringing.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2024
Phil, she regaled attendees for nearly three hours with a set list that jumped from son jarocho to rock en español to cumbia.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2024
Jimmy regaled us with war stories, but I also took him aside and asked him about MK’s problems.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Besides regaling ravers at their concerts — which will continue for the remainder of the calendar year, including a 20-city North American tour that kicks off in Boston on Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Genge will enjoy regaling him with the story of his score over that beverage.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
Barely more than a month ago, I was regaling you all with my brave Super Bowl pick for the 2025 NFL season: the Baltimore Ravens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025
Darcelle, who died Thursday, was crowned the world’s oldest working drag performer in 2016 by the Guinness Book of World Records and was regaling audiences until the very end.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 24, 2023
Marmalade pointed to a nearby booth, where an ordinary man with wispy blond hair and a gap in his front teeth was regaling his tablemates with the story of Lady Delune.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
