What does indulged mean?
“Indulged” is the past tense and past participle of “indulge,” a word for allowing someone, or allowing oneself, to enjoy or do something desirable. It often implies treating someone with unusual generosity or giving them something they particularly want, as in “indulged the children with presents.” In another common pattern, “indulged in” describes giving in to a pleasurable activity: “She indulged in a quiet afternoon reading.” The word can suggest indulgence in a negative sense when it refers to excessive gratification, but it does not always carry that criticism. It is used in both British and American English and appears in formal writing as well as ordinary conversation.
verbPast tense and past participle of indulge. It means to allow someone to have or do something they enjoy, or to yield to a temptation or desire.
- To allow oneself or someone else to do or enjoy something desirable.
- To yield to a temptation, pleasure, or desire.
- To give someone excessive attention, comfort, or treat.
"After finishing the marathon, she indulged in a long, hot bath."
"The family indulged the children with a trip to the amusement park."
"He indulged in an extra dessert despite having promised himself to eat more healthily."
In the original Latin, indulgere meant to allow or yield, so “indulged” preserves the sense of giving in to a desire.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indulged come from?
The word comes through English “indulge” from Latin indulgere, a compound of in- and dulcis, meaning “sweet.” The original sense developed from being lenient or yielding to a request and later came to mean granting someone pleasure or excessive indulgence. The same Latin root underlies “indulgence” and “indulgent,” which reflect the ideas of allowing, tolerating, or treating someone generously.
Related word forms
How indulged is actually used
The word is formal or literary in many contexts, although it is also common in everyday speech. The expression 'indulge in' is especially frequent and can refer either to a harmless pleasure or, less neutrally, to excessive indulgence.