Word
indulge
Phoneticsin·dulge, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈdəɫdʒ/
UK/ɪndˈʌldʒ/
Definitions
01to treat yourself
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to allow yourself to have or do something that you enjoy, even if it is a bit bad for you.
v. to allow oneself to enjoy a particular pleasure, typically one that is considered a luxury or a minor vice.
“After a long week at work, she decided to indulge in a expensive spa treatment.”
“The vacationers spent the afternoon indulging in local delicacies and vintage wines at the seaside bistro.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'in' followed by a noun or gerund.
Pitfall
I indulged to a piece of cake.
I indulged in a piece of cake.
When you enjoy a specific thing, use the preposition 'in' after indulge.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'treat'. While 'treat' is a simple gift, 'indulge' suggests a deeper surrender to a craving or habit.
02to spoil someone
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to let someone have whatever they want, even if it is not good for their character.
v. to yield to the wishes or whims of another person, often to an excessive degree.
“The grandparents tend to indulge the children with too many toys and sweets.”
“The king's advisors were careful not to indulge his every whim, fearing his erratic temper would destabilise the court.”
Usage
Transitive; takes a direct object representing the person being indulged.
Teaching tip
In this sense, the word is often used by parents or teachers to describe 'spoiling' a child.
Antonyms
03to allow a habit
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to give in to a feeling or a habit instead of stopping it.
v. to give way to a habit, emotion, or temptation rather than restraining it.
Español:ser indulgente consigo mismo
“He indulged his curiosity and opened the old letter.”
“She allowed herself a moment to indulge her grief before returning to the demands of the funeral arrangements.”
Usage
Transitive; the object is usually an abstract noun like 'curiosity' or 'grief'.
Teaching tip
This sense is more abstract than eating or shopping; it is about letting a mental state take over.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “indulge” in context.
Verb
01. indulge a child's every whim
“The grandparents were criticized for indulging the child's every whim during the holidays.”
verb + possessive + noun
02. indulge a passion for music
“Retirement finally gave him the time to indulge his passion for classical music.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. indulge in a whim
“On her birthday, she decided to indulge in a whim and bought the expensive designer shoes.”
verb + prep + noun
04. rarely indulge in gossip
“The professor was known for his integrity and would rarely indulge in office gossip.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Preposition
05. indulge in nostalgia
“The reunion was a perfect opportunity to indulge in nostalgia and share old stories.”
prep + noun
Adverb
06. freely indulge in criticism
“The anonymous forum allowed users to freely indulge in harsh criticism of the government.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
07. occasionally indulge in chocolate
“Even though he is on a strict diet, he will occasionally indulge in dark chocolate.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“They can also tap directly into our shadow selves, serving as the ultimate canvas for the toxic romantic tropes we secretly indulge in on screen.” “But it is a quiet afternoon in August – so let’s indulge in a hypothetical.” Etymology
From Latin indulgeō (“to indulge”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/indulge
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0