at a premium
idiom
1
: for a high price
Land in the county is selling at a premium.
Rooms with a view are available, but they come at a premium.
2
: difficult to get because there is little available
We bought bunk beds because space in the apartment is at a premium.
Examples of at a premium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With hits at a premium for both teams, Carter Shanks’ big day led the way for the Lions.
—
Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2024
These names help communities try to preserve space in a city where space is at a premium.
—Larry Buchanan, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2023
Parking spots will be at a premium anywhere near the draft footprint, which is why Detroit city officials and others involved in planning for the event have been advising folks to consider public transit and park-and-ride options instead.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 23 Apr. 2024
The fact that these drinks can be sold at a premium has endeared them to stores, Baskin said.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
In the past decade, basketball has changed in ways that are well suited to the women’s game: three-point shooting is emphasized, with the players spread out across the floor; the pace is fast, so big players who can dribble and move and pass are at a premium.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Many models from Toyota and Honda remain at a premium because of high demand, Drury said.
—Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Chances to score were at a premium in the opening exchanges, with tempers flaring between both teams as the game wore on – Georgia’s substitute goalkeeper Giorgi Loria was even shown a red card moments before half-time as both benches ran onto the pitch when a scuffle broke out.
—Ben Church, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Advancement demands the determination to dig out loose balls, claim crucial rebounds and bully your way to the basket (or foul line) when points are at a premium.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2024
These names help communities try to preserve space in a city where space is at a premium.
—Larry Buchanan, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2023
Parking spots will be at a premium anywhere near the draft footprint, which is why Detroit city officials and others involved in planning for the event have been advising folks to consider public transit and park-and-ride options instead.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 23 Apr. 2024
The fact that these drinks can be sold at a premium has endeared them to stores, Baskin said.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
In the past decade, basketball has changed in ways that are well suited to the women’s game: three-point shooting is emphasized, with the players spread out across the floor; the pace is fast, so big players who can dribble and move and pass are at a premium.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Many models from Toyota and Honda remain at a premium because of high demand, Drury said.
—Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Chances to score were at a premium in the opening exchanges, with tempers flaring between both teams as the game wore on – Georgia’s substitute goalkeeper Giorgi Loria was even shown a red card moments before half-time as both benches ran onto the pitch when a scuffle broke out.
—Ben Church, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Advancement demands the determination to dig out loose balls, claim crucial rebounds and bully your way to the basket (or foul line) when points are at a premium.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at a premium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at a premium
Cite this Entry
“At a premium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20a%20premium. Accessed 2 Jun. 2024.
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