# indulged

/ˌɪnˈdəɫdʒd/ (US) · /ɪndˈʌldʒd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indulged
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.