splurge: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “splurge” mean?
To spend money freely, lavishly, and often extravagantly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To spend money freely, lavishly, and often extravagantly.
To engage in any form of lavish or self-indulgent behavior, not necessarily financial, such as eating, expressing emotions, or talking at length.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is used in both varieties with the same grammatical patterns and core meaning.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with positive, celebratory excess in AmE; in BrE, the nuance of 'wasteful' or 'silly' spending can be slightly stronger.
Frequency
The word is perhaps marginally more frequent in American English, but is thoroughly familiar and common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “splurge” in a Sentence
[S] splurge [on O][S] splurge [O] [on O]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “splurge” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We decided to splurge on a weekend in Paris.
- She splurged her entire bonus on designer shoes.
- Don't splurge all your savings in one go.
American English
- I'm going to splurge and get the premium package.
- They splurged on a huge 4K TV for the Super Bowl.
- He splurged $500 on concert tickets.
adverb
British English
- Rarely used. Poetic/creative: 'He spent splurge-ily, without a care.'
American English
- Rarely used. Informal: 'He lives splurge-first, think-later.'
adjective
British English
- It was a bit of a splurge purchase, but I love it.
- They went for a splurge meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
American English
- This is my one splurge item for the year.
- We're planning a splurge vacation to Hawaii.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in informal business contexts (e.g., marketing) to describe lavish corporate spending or a major investment: 'The company splurged on a new advertising campaign.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common in conversations about personal finance, shopping, and leisure: 'I splurged on a new handbag for my birthday.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “splurge”
- Incorrect: 'I splurged a new car.' Correct: 'I splurged on a new car.'
- Incorrect: 'We did a splurge.' Correct: 'We went on a splurge.' or 'We splurged.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is often used with a sense of guilty pleasure or celebratory indulgence, so the connotation can be positive or neutral, depending on context.
Yes, very commonly. As a noun, it means 'an act of spending money freely or extravagantly' (e.g., 'That holiday was a real splurge').
The preposition 'on' is almost always used (e.g., 'splurge on a car'). The structure can also be 'splurge [money] on [something]'.
In more formal contexts, you could use 'lavish' (as a verb), 'expend lavishly', or 'indulge in extravagance'.
To spend money freely, lavishly, and often extravagantly.
Splurge: in British English it is pronounced /splɜːdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /splɝːdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go on a spending spree”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound of coins SPLashing and sURGing out of your wallet when you SPLURGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCESS IS AN OUTBURST / RELEASE (of liquid, energy, or emotion).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'splurge' used CORRECTLY?