Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense indulges, present participle indulging, past tense, past participle indulged
1. verb
If you indulgein something or if you indulgeyourself, you allow yourself to have or do something that you know you will enjoy.
We had enough time to indulge in a bit of window shopping. [VERB + in]
He returned to Britain so that he could indulge his passion for football. [VERB noun]
You can indulge yourself without spending a fortune. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
[Also VERB]
2. verb
If you indulge someone, you let them have or do what they want, even if this is not good for them.
He did not agree with indulging children. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: spoil, pamper, cosset, baby More Synonyms of indulge
More Synonyms of indulge
indulge in British English
(ɪnˈdʌldʒ)
verb
1. (whenintr, often foll by in)
to yield to or gratify (a whim or desire for)
to indulge a desire for new clothes
to indulge in new clothes
2. (transitive)
to yield to the wishes of; pamper
to indulge a child
3. (transitive)
to allow oneself the pleasure of something
he liked to indulge himself in his favourite pastime
4. (transitive) business
to allow (a debtor) an extension of time for payment of (a bill, etc)
5. (intransitive) informal
to take alcoholic drink, esp to excess
Derived forms
indulger (inˈdulger)
noun
indulgingly (inˈdulgingly)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin indulgēre to concede, from -dulgēre, probably related to Greek dolikhos long, Gothic tulgus firm
indulge in American English
(ɪnˈdʌldʒ)
verb transitiveWord forms: inˈdulged or inˈdulging
1.
to yield to or satisfy (a desire); give oneself up to
to indulge a craving for sweets
2.
to gratify the wishes of; be very lenient with; humor
3. Archaic
to grant as a kindness, favor, or privilege
verb intransitive
4.
to give way to one's own desires; indulge oneself (in something)
SYNONYMY NOTE: indulge implies a yielding to the wishes or desires of oneself or another, as because ofa weak will or an amiable nature; , humor suggests compliance with the mood or whim of another [they humored the dying man]; pamper implies overindulgence or excessive gratification; , spoil emphasizes the harm done to the personality or character by overindulgence or excessiveattention [grandparents often spoil children]; baby suggests the sort of pampering and devoted care lavished on infants and connotesa potential loss of self-reliance [because he was sickly, his mother continued to baby him]
OPPOSITES: discipline, restrain
Derived forms
indulger (inˈdulger)
noun
Word origin
L indulgere, to be kind to, yield to < in- + base prob. akin to Gr dolichos, long & Goth tulgus, firm
Examples of 'indulge' in a sentence
indulge
Has any other generation been more intellectually indulged and pampered?
Christianity Today (2000)
And that maybe his passing will serve as a warning to others not to indulge in deadly drinking games.
The Sun (2008)
He was used to having his desires indulged, whether they were aesthetic or carnal.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
At that time he was also indulging in under-age drinking.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
An irrational desire to indulge their little ones in the only way our generation really knows how: luxury.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
To indulge my desire for year-round soft fruit, chunks of ice cap are crashing into the sea.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
THERE are so many stylish luxury hotels vying to pamper and indulge these days that it can be hard to know where to splash your cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A study has suggested that young people are now more likely to want to go to university and less likely to drink and indulge in risky behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The treatments, yoga and meditation on offer were enough to make me abandon my poolside reading and indulge in full-time pampering.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
My only son would be 25. I would be entirely free to follow my interests and indulge my desires.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
indulge
British English: indulge VERB
If you indulge in something or if you indulge yourself, you allow yourself to have or do something that you know you will enjoy.
Only rarely will she indulge in a bar of chocolate.
American English: indulge
Brazilian Portuguese: satisfazer
Chinese: 纵容
European Spanish: satisfacer
French: se permettre
German: sich gönnen
Italian: concedersi il piacere
Japanese: ふける
Korean: 탐닉하다
European Portuguese: satisfazer
Latin American Spanish: satisfacer
Chinese translation of 'indulge'
indulge
(ɪnˈdʌldʒ)
vt
[desire, passion]纵(縱)情享受 (zòngqíng xiǎngshòu)
[person, child]纵(縱)容 (zòngróng)
vi
to indulge (in)[luxury, hobby, vice]沉溺(于(於)) (chénnì (yú))
to indulge o.s.纵(縱)情享受 (zòngqíng xiǎngshòu)
1 (verb)
Definition
to yield to or gratify (a whim or desire for)
My success has let me indulge my love of expensive cars.
Synonyms
gratify
Her work at the Treasury gratified her sense of self-importance.
satisfy
The pace of change has not been quick enough to satisfy everyone.
fulfil
After the war, nothing quite fulfilled her.
feed
give way to
yield to
cater to
pander to
regale
He was constantly regaled with amusing stories.
gladden
Her visit surprised and gladdened him.
satiate
go along with
2 (verb)
Definition
to allow (someone) to have or do everything he or she wants
She did not agree with indulging children.
Synonyms
spoil
Grandparents are often tempted to spoil their grandchildren.
pamper
Her parents have pampered her since the day she was born.
cosset
Important clients were cosseted and pampered like royalty.
baby
My parents never babied me, unless I was really ill.
favour
There was good reason for favouring him.
humour
She humoured her boss to avoid arguments.
give in to
coddle
I coddled my youngest son dreadfully.
spoon-feed
He spoon-fed me and did everything around the house.