splurge

[ splurj ]

verb (used without object)

, splurged, splurg·ing.

1. to indulge oneself in some luxury or pleasure, especially a costly one:

   They splurged on a trip to Europe.

2. to show off.

verb (used with object)

, splurged, splurg·ing.

1. to spend (money) lavishly or ostentatiously:

   He splurged thousands on the party.

noun

1. an ostentatious display, especially an extravagantly expensive one.

   Synonyms: spree, indulgence

splurge

/ splɜːdʒ /

noun

1. an ostentatious display, esp of wealth
2. a bout of unrestrained extravagance

verb

1. often foll by on to spend (money) unrestrainedly or extravagantly

Other Words From

• splurgi·ly adverb
• splurgy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of splurge¹

1820–30, Americanism; perhaps blend of splash and surge

Word History and Origins

Origin of splurge¹

C19: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Many customers are willing to splurge on Halloween, Levin said, especially because the holiday is so popular in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

"Her decision to let borrowing rip make a total nonsense of her claims on the state of the public finances, because if they were truly in such a dire strait, as she has said, what we should have seen today was a significant reduction in borrowing to repair them, not the splurge that she has just unleashed."

From BBC

Finally: Many Americans report living “paycheck to paycheck,” even though they have savings and splurge on luxuries.

From Slate

Definitely splurge on the steak, the star of the show as it should be.

From Salon

If you’re celebrating something special, it might be worth the splurge.

From Salon