splurge
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to indulge oneself in some luxury or pleasure, especially a costly one.
They splurged on a trip to Europe.
-
to show off.
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
-
an ostentatious display, esp of wealth
-
a bout of unrestrained extravagance
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
splurgesimple
-
splurgessimple
-
have splurgedperfect
-
has splurgedperfect
-
am splurgingprogressive
-
are splurgingprogressive
-
is splurgingprogressive
-
have been splurgingperfect progressive
-
has been splurgingperfect progressive
Past
-
splurgedsimple
-
had splurgedperfect
-
was splurgingprogressive
-
were splurgingprogressive
-
had been splurgingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of splurge
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.
Vocabulary lists containing splurge
With the Fire on High
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Some Places More Than Others
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The List of Things That Will Not Change
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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:
Plus, Ford chases its biggest military contract since the Cold War, and boaters splurge to make fishing yachts run like supercars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
She’s 25 and unemployed, and it’s unclear at first how she acquired the funds to splurge on an on-site cottage with a pool, 90-minute massages, and various forced-fun adventures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
We asked experts to share their ideas for less-crowded, but equally charming, destinations, as well as tips on how to splurge more wisely.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
A consumer who won’t splurge on a luxury bag may still pay for a weekend hike, a pet, a fitness class, a short domestic trip, or a companion to eat hot pot with.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
I was neither, but under the circumstances, I was willing to splurge a little.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
A lack of updating, rising mall rents and splurges on new businesses weakened its business until it declared bankruptcy in 2014.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
As inflation grew, many consumers also pulled back on buying discretionary items, including the throw pillows, clothing and other splurges Target is known for, according to the Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
Marcel Thieliant at Capital Economics added that he did not expect Takaichi to embark on any new major spending splurges or tax cuts.
From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026
You can also put some more effort into bargain hunting when it comes to splurges like those soccer jerseys you mentioned.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2025
So she chucks up as workin’ housekeeper, splurges on the wig, and strikes a swell intelligence office with this phony reference.
From Odd Numbers Being Further Chronicles of Shorty McCabe by Ford, Sewell
Na has splurged on concert tickets, fancy clothes and dinners for her parents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Knocking on for £40m - maybe more - has been splurged on transfer and loan fees.
From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026
The Dodgers also splurged in December by signing former New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz to a $69 million three-year deal, making him the highest paid closer in baseball.
From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026
So, when the Dodgers splurged last winter, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner offered a measured response.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026
We were feeling upset, so we splurged on a trip to the diner.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
It’s also unclear why she chose a five-star resort for the splurging, given her discomfort with everything from the menu on down.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Sure, some attendees may be splurging thousands on a single ticket, but others are getting nothing at all, even after traveling across international borders for games.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026
One tool that can help guide people’s decisions about splurging is a personal values statement, said Ashley Agnew, a financial therapist at Edward Jones.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026
Pet owners are splurging on animal-friendly interior design.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
The difference is that one will be splurging and then play on a public course while the other will not blink at the price and tee off at a private country club.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
