Wiktionary

splurge

English edit

WOTD – 2 October 2011

Etymology edit

Possibly from a blend of splash +‎ surge, originally US.[1][2] According to the OED, onomatopoeic.[3][4]

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

splurge (third-person singular simple present splurges, present participle splurging, simple past and past participle splurged) (informal)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To (cause to) gush; to flow or move in a rush.
    The tomato sauce was splurged all over the chips.
    • 1884, Donald Grant Mitchell, Bound Together, A Sheaf of Papers/Norwich, 1659-1859, Norwich:
      But the steamboats come in their time ; and I am sure that I address a large crowd of sympathizing auditors, now that I come to speak of the magnificent old "Fanny," spluttering and paddling, and splurging up to the little wharf under the lea of Peppers Hill, where the pine wood lay piled in fabulous quantities.
    • 1913, Edith Wharton, “Chapter XXXVIII”, in The Custom of the Country:
      She waited a moment, quivering with the expectation of her husband's answer; then, as none came except the silent darkening of his face, she walked to the door and turned round to fling back: "Of course you can do what you like with your own house, and make any arrangements that suit your family, without consulting me; but you needn't think I'm ever going back to live in that stuffy little hole, with Hubert and his wife splurging round on top of our heads!"
    • 1930, Robert E. Howard, Sailors' Grudge:
      "And boy," he splurged, "we are filming a peach, a pip and a wow! Is it a knockout? Oh, baby! A prize-fight picture entitled 'The Honor of the Champion,' starring Reginald Van Veer, with Honey Precious for the herowine. Boy, will it pack the theayters!"
  2. (transitive, intransitive) To spend lavishly or extravagantly, especially money. [from 1911]
    Synonym: splash out
    They decided to splurge on the biggest banana split for dessert.
    • 1912, Jack London, The House of Pride:
      I could see Schultz think, and revive, and splurge with his bets again.
    • 2023 December 6, Sam Lansky, “Person of Year 2023 : Taylor Swift”, in Time‎[1]:
      Fans flew across the country, stayed in hotels, ate meals out, and splurged on everything from sweatshirts to limited-edition vinyl, with the average Eras attendee reportedly spending nearly $1,300.
  3. (intransitive) To produce an extravagant or ostentatious display.

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun edit

splurge (plural splurges) (informal)

  1. An extravagant or ostentatious display. [from 1828]
  2. An extravagant indulgence; a spending spree. [from 1928]

Translations edit

References edit

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “splurge”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ “splurge”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
  3. ^ “splurge, v.”, in OED Online  ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
  4. ^ “splurge, n.”, in OED Online  ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Anagrams edit

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