Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To allow (someone) to have or do something they enjoy, especially to an excessive degree: To treat with special favor, often by permitting something not usually allowed or by giving excessive gratification.
   • To allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of something: To satisfy or yield freely to a desire or interest.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To engage or take part, especially freely or with abandon: Often used with "in" to describe allowing oneself to do or have something enjoyable, sometimes to excess.

Examples of Usage

• Transitive verb:

  • The grandparents indulge their grandchildren with sweets and gifts.
  • On her birthday, she indulged her passion for art by visiting three museums.

• Intransitive verb (with "in"):

  • After a long week, I like to indulge in a hot bath and a good book.
  • He rarely indulges in rich desserts.

Advanced Usage

• "to indulge a thought/fancy/hope": To allow oneself to think about or entertain something, often pleasant but perhaps unrealistic.

  • She indulged the fancy that one day she would live in a castle.

• "to indulge oneself": To allow oneself to have or do something special or pleasurable.

  • For the weekend, I plan to indulge myself with complete relaxation.

Variants and Related Words

• Indulgence (noun): The act of indulging or the state of being indulgent; something enjoyed as a treat.

  • Chocolate is my one indulgence.

• Indulgent (adjective): Characterized by or showing indulgence; lenient or permissive.

  • He has very indulgent parents.

Synonyms

• Pamper: To treat with excessive care and attention.
• Spoil: To harm someone's character by being too lenient or indulgent.
• Gratify: To give pleasure or satisfaction to.
• Yield to: To give in to a desire or impulse.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Indulge in: This is the standard construction for the intransitive use, meaning to allow oneself to enjoy something.
  • It's okay to indulge in a little nostalgia sometimes.

Related Idioms

• "To indulge one's every whim": To satisfy all of one's (or someone else's) desires, no matter how sudden or unreasonable.
  • The wealthy heir was used to having his every whim indulged.

Verb

1. treat with excessive indulgence
   • grandparents often pamper the children
   • Let's not mollycoddle our students!
2. enjoy to excess
   • She indulges in ice cream
3. yield (to); give satisfaction to
4. give free rein to
   • The writer indulged in metaphorical language