indulge

/ɪnˈdʌldʒ/

/ɪnˈdʌldʒ/

Other forms: indulged; indulging; indulges

Indulge is a verb that means "to give in to something," like when you indulge your craving for chocolate by eating a big piece of it.

The original meaning of indulge is "to treat with unearned favor." That's why it doesn't mean the same as reward. Instead, when you indulge, you enjoy or take part in something just because you want to — like indulging in a celebrity gossip magazine: you know you should be doing something more constructive, but you don't care. When you indulge someone else, you go along with whatever they want to do.

Definitions of indulge

1. verb

   yield (to); give satisfaction to
   synonyms: gratify, pander

   types:

   humor, humour

   put into a good mood

   spree

   engage without restraint in an activity and indulge, as when shopping

   sow one's oats, sow one's wild oats

   live promiscuously and self-indulgently

   type of:

   cater, ply, provide, supply

   give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
2. verb

   treat with excessive indulgence
   synonyms: baby, cocker, coddle, cosset, featherbed, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

   type of:

   do by, handle, treat

   interact in a certain way
3. verb

   enjoy to excess
   “She indulges in ice cream”

   synonyms: luxuriate

   types:

   surfeit

   indulge (one's appetite) to satiety

   type of:

   consume, deplete, eat, eat up, exhaust, run through, use up, wipe out

   use up (resources or materials)
4. verb

   give free rein to
   “The writer indulged in metaphorical language”

   types:

   wallow

   devote oneself entirely to something; indulge in to an immoderate degree, usually with pleasure