ichidan verb, intransitive verb
be dazed; be absent-minded; be mentally slow
Describes a state of mental dullness, befuddlement, or being out of it, often due to age, fatigue, or distraction.
年をとって、少し惚けてきたようだ。
He seems to have become a bit dazed with age.
疲れていて、頭が惚けている。
I'm so tired my mind is foggy.
auxiliary verb, ichidan verb
be engrossed in; be absorbed in
Used as an auxiliary verb attached to the continuative form of another verb, indicating being completely absorbed in that action. Usually written in kana.
彼はゲームに遊びほうけている。
He is completely absorbed in playing games.
夏休みは毎日寝ほうけていた。
I spent the whole summer vacation just sleeping away.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
become frayed and dishevelled; be fluffy
Describes hair, grass, or similar things becoming overgrown, tangled, or fluffy. Rare and somewhat literary; occasionally written as 蓬ける.
長い間手入れをしなかったので、庭の草がほうけてしまった。
The garden grass has become overgrown and dishevelled because it wasn't tended for a long time.