DictionaryAI

indulge

verb
in-DULJ/ɪnˈdʌld͡ʒ/

Formsindulges, indulging, indulged

5 meanings of indulge

Practice

  1. 1
    verbintransitive
    To give in to a temptation or desire rather than holding back.

    Travelers often indulge when the dessert cart comes around.

    He rarely indulges, preferring to save his money for later.

    Similarsplurge

    Oppositeabstain, refrain

    Note

    Two constructions share this sense. Used bare, the object is left to context: he looked at the chocolate but didn't indulge. With in, it takes a noun or an -ing form, as in indulge in drinking. David L. Smith's 1950 railwayman, 'indulging in something more potent than coffee', shows its talent for polite understatement. Christian Wolmar's 2022 jab at unions that indulge in strikes shows it turned to reproach.

  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To satisfy the wishes or whims of another person, granting them what they desire.

    The hotel staff indulged every guest's request without complaint.

    Parents who indulge their children too often risk spoiling them.

    Similarpamper, spoil, humor, gratify, satisfy

    Oppositedeny, refuse

    Note

    Here a person is the object, and what they receive follows with: Grandma indulges the kids with sweets. Turned on oneself it becomes reflexive, indulge myself with beautiful clothes. Francis Atterbury's 1706 funeral sermon already has indulge ourselves in. The verb easily implies too much leniency: 'I indulged her more than I should have' admits as much.

  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To give way to a habit or temptation rather than opposing or restraining it.

    She indulged her curiosity and opened the locked drawer.

    Writers sometimes indulge a tangent before returning to the main point.

    Similarsatisfy, gratify, feed, pursue

    Oppositeresist, suppress, restrain, curb

    Note

    Here the object is the impulse itself: indulge sloth, pride, selfishness, one's inclinations. No preposition comes between verb and object. That is the quickest way to tell it from giving in to desire, where one indulges in the thing desired. The usual objects are vices and leanings, so the verb carries a faint sense of restraint that was never exercised.

  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To grant something as a favor, bestowing it in concession or in compliance with a wish or request.

    The host indulged her guests with a private tour of the gardens.

    Indulge me for a moment while I explain the background.

    Similartreat, humor, oblige, favor

    Note

    The object here is the gift rather than the person, and the receiver can follow with to. Antiquitates Christianæ (1678) speaks of what 'must be indulged to public manners'. Pope's Dunciad (1728) begs Chaos and Night to indulge 'one dim ray of light.' Compare pleasing someone's wishes, where the person indulged fills the object slot instead.

  5. 5
    verbtransitive
    To grant an extension on the deadline for a payment that is owed.

    The merchant indulged his regular customers, letting their accounts run until spring.

    Creditors who indulge struggling borrowers sometimes recover more in the long run.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin "indulgeo," meaning "I indulge."