Definition

1. Verb:
   • To thrive profusely or flourish extensively: To grow or develop in a lush, abundant, or vigorous manner.
   • To enjoy to excess; to indulge oneself with great pleasure and comfort: To take intense delight or sensual pleasure in something, often in a self-indulgent way.
   • To become extravagant; to indulge (oneself) luxuriously: To behave or live in a sumptuous, opulent, or self-gratifying manner.

Usage

The verb "luxuriate" is typically used intransitively, often followed by the preposition "in." It describes a state of taking great, often leisurely, pleasure or thriving in a rich environment. It implies a sense of abundance, comfort, and deep enjoyment.

Examples

• Thriving/Flourishing:
  • The plants luxuriate in the humid climate of the greenhouse.
• Enjoying to Excess:
  • After a long week, she loves to luxuriate in a hot bubble bath.
  • He luxuriated in the feeling of the soft, expensive sheets.
• Behaving Extravagantly:
  • On vacation, they luxuriated in five-star hotels and gourmet meals.

Advanced Usage

• "to luxuriate in": This is the most common construction, emphasizing deep immersion in a pleasurable experience or condition.
  • She luxuriated in the praise she received for her work.
  • The cat luxuriates in the warm spot of sunlight on the floor.

Variants and Related Words

• Luxuriant (adj): Growing thickly and healthily; lush and abundant (e.g., ). Note: "Luxuriant" describes growth, while "luxurious" describes comfort/opulence.
• Luxurious (adj): Characterized by luxury; extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable, especially when involving great expense.
  • They stayed in a luxurious suite.
• Luxury (n): A state of great comfort or elegance, especially involving great expense; an inessential but desirable item.

Synonyms

• Revel: To take great pleasure or delight.
• Bask: To lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure.
• Indulge: To allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of something.
• Flourish: To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way.
• Thrive: To prosper, grow, or develop well.

Antonyms

• Deprive: To deny someone the possession or use of something.
• Abstain: To restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.
• Struggle: To strive under difficulty or opposition.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Luxuriate in one's own success": To take excessive or great pleasure in one's achievements.
  • After winning the award, he was content to simply luxuriate in his own success for a while.
• "Luxuriate in idleness": To enjoy being lazy or inactive in a very comfortable way.
  • On Sundays, I like to luxuriate in idleness and read the entire newspaper.

Verb

1. thrive profusely or flourish extensively
2. enjoy to excess
   • She indulges in ice cream
3. become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously