splurge

American  

[splurj] / splɜrdʒ /

verb (used without object)

splurged, splurging

1. to indulge oneself in some luxury or pleasure, especially a costly one.

   They splurged on a trip to Europe.

2. to show off.

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verb (used with object)

splurged, splurging

1. to spend (money) lavishly or ostentatiously.

   He splurged thousands on the party.

noun

1. an ostentatious display, especially an extravagantly expensive one.

   Synonyms:

   spree, indulgence

splurge British  

/ splɜːdʒ /

noun

1. an ostentatious display, esp of wealth

2. a bout of unrestrained extravagance

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verb

1. (often foll by on) to spend (money) unrestrainedly or extravagantly

Other Word Forms

• splurgily adverb
• splurgy adjective

Etymology

Origin of splurge

1820–30, perhaps blend of splash and surge

Explanation

To splurge is to indulge yourself. You can also go on a splurge if you spend a lot or act extravagantly in another way. Anyone might have a cupcake. If you have 10 cupcakes, that's a splurge. When you go on a splurge or are splurging, it usually applies to money. Splurging happens when you see a lot of things you want — or even one very expensive thing — and buy it, even though you might not be able to afford it. When you splurge, you're going wild in some way. A splurge is sometimes called a binge.

Example Sentences

At Augusta National Golf Club, home of the annual golf tournament, the splurge doesn’t start with merch—it starts with access.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Still, if you opt for a bunch of low-cost or practical things to fill out an Easter basket, it doesn’t hurt to throw in a splurge item or two.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Her sculpture park, titled “sister dreamer lauren halsey’s architectural ode to tha surge n splurge of south central los angeles,” opens with a block party Saturday on the corner of Western Avenue and 76th Street.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

But it stands to reason that the more money spent on things like food, power and healthcare, the less there is to splurge elsewhere.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

“We shouldn’t be bleaching any more palm oil. We should splurge on vegetable oil for these last few weeks,” Obiora said, still swatting at the flies.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie