regale

1 of 2

verb

re·​gale ri-ˈgāl 

regaled; regaling

transitive verb

1

: to entertain sumptuously : feast with delicacies

2

: to give pleasure or amusement to

regaled us with tall tales

intransitive verb

: to feast oneself : feed

regale

2 of 2

noun

1

: a sumptuous feast

2

: a choice piece especially of food

Did you know?

Regale has been an English verb since the early half of the 1600s, having been adapted from the French word régaler. That word traces back to the Middle French verb galer, which means “to have a good time.” (Gala, meaning “a festive celebration,” is from the same source.) Today, regale still applies when someone is entertaining or amusing another, especially by sharing stories. Regale also sometimes functions as a noun meaning “a sumptuous feast.” An early use of the noun appears in the preface to a 1732 dramatic poem by George Granville: “An English stomach … will rise hungry from a regale of nothing but sweet-meats.”

Synonyms

Verb

• amuse
• disport
• divert
• entertain
• solace

Noun

• banquet
• dinner
• feast
• feed
• spread

Examples of regale in a Sentence

Verb

regaled his grandchildren with stories of his time in Morocco

an inn that nightly regales its guests with five-course meals prepared by a master chef

Noun

a regale to honor the retiring Supreme Court justice

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The reserve’s common spaces are just as gorgeous as the private residences and are ideal for regaling your fellow travelers with your daily gorilla stories. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024

Judi Dench recently regaled The Times with a bit of naughty talk directed her way by her African grey parrot, Sweetie. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024

There were plenty of laughs as Kelley, who was a movie buff, would regale them both with humorous stories about film stars and others, Blanchard said. —Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 15 Nov. 2024

Big Jim uses a framing device of Jim and Huck, now in their 90s, sitting together on the front porch at a family reunion in the 1920s, regaling a gaggle of grandchildren with their long-ago adventures. —Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French régaler, from Middle French, from regale, noun

Noun

French régal, from Middle French regale, from re- + galer to have a good time — more at gallant entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1642, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing regale

• regale with

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Kids Definition

regale

verb

re·​gale

ri-ˈgā(ə)l

regaled; regaling

1

: to entertain richly

2

: to give pleasure or amusement to

3

: to feast oneself : feed