Word
indulged
Phoneticsin·dulged, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈdəɫdʒd/
UK/ɪndˈʌldʒd/
Definition
v. to allow someone to have something they want, even if it is not very healthy or useful. You also use this when you give in to a habit or a feeling you know is bad for you.
v. to allow or permit someone to have or do something; to yield to a desire or habit. Often implies a lack of restraint or a failure to exercise self-control.
Examples
“She indulged her children by letting them eat too much candy.”
“The manager indulged the employee's request for a week off, even though the team was busy with a major project.”
“While the critic was willing to indulge the author's stylistic quirks for a short story, he found the same habits intolerable in a full-length novel.”
Examples
simple
“She indulged her children by letting them eat too much candy.”
contextual
“The manager indulged the employee's request for a week off, even though the team was busy with a major project.”
complex
“While the critic was willing to indulge the author's stylistic quirks for a short story, he found the same habits intolerable in a full-length novel.”
Real-World Examples
“We feel scared and abandoned."
France's leading politicians have indulged in a festival of finger-pointing since Saturday.” “Photograph: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop While the appeal of all this to the female writers and readers is clear, men happily indulged in these fantasies, too.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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