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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.”
Examples of regale in a Sentence
ABC News, 15 June 2026
One morning earlier this week, Thomas Lupo, the president and CEO of the American Wood Column Corporation, was in his office regaling two young entrepreneurs with tales of his 110-year-old family business.
—Anne Kadet, Curbed, 12 June 2026
Including that of a fellow soldier who'd regale them with his harrowing combat stories involving delivering them meals.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 9 June 2026
His mind was as sharp as a tack, again regaling us with amazing hockey stories.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 5 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Regale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regale. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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