What does regaled mean?
Regaled is the past tense and past participle of regale, a formal word for entertaining someone lavishly or honoring them with exceptional generosity. A host might regale guests with gifts, praise, attention, or an absorbing story; a politician might regale supporters with a speech. The verb suggests abundance, warmth, and sometimes spectacle, so it is generally more ceremonious or expressive than “entertained.” It can also describe being treated with special distinction, particularly when someone is given impressive hospitality or abundant praise. Although common in polished writing and conversation, it is less neutral than words such as “treated” or “praised.” The form “regaling” is used before a noun, as in “regaling guests with delicacies,” while “regaled” completes the action in the past.
verbTo entertain someone lavishly, especially with gifts, praise, or attention. It can also mean to honor or distinguish someone in a generous way.
- To entertain someone lavishly or generously
- To honor or distinguish someone with special attention, praise, or treatment
"The host regaled her guests with stories of her travels."
"The queen regaled the ambassador with a lengthy account of her kingdom."
"The speaker regaled the audience with vivid anecdotes from his childhood."
To regale someone is to treat them like an honored guest: lavishly, generously, and often with an impressive show.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of regaled
The word comes from “regale,” which was first recorded in the late 16th century. It derives from the Latin regalis, meaning “royal” or “kingly,” from rex, meaning “king,” which in turn comes from a Proto-Indo-European root associated with ruling and directing. In English, the word developed from the idea of royal favor or generosity and eventually came to mean entertaining someone grandly. Related words include “royal,” “regal,” “realm,” “rule,” and “kingdom.”
Related word forms
How regaled is actually used
“Regale” is usually transitive and commonly takes “with”: “regaled him with praise.” It often implies abundance or spectacle rather than simple courtesy.
Easily confused with regaled
“Regaled” is a verb meaning to entertain or honor lavishly, whereas “regal” is an adjective meaning royal, majestic, or fit for a monarch.