expensive

adjective

ex·​pen·​sive ik-ˈspen(t)-siv How to pronounce expensive (audio)
1
: involving high cost or sacrifice
an expensive hobby
2
a
: commanding a high price and especially one that is not based on intrinsic worth or is beyond a prospective buyer's means
b
: characterized by high prices
expensive shops
expensively adverb
expensiveness noun

Examples of expensive in a Sentence

The lights were expensive to install. expensive clothing that only the truly wealthy can afford
Recent Examples on the Web The world of luxury automobile and high-end whiskies collaborations just got a little bit bigger—and a whole lot more expensive—with the introduction of the new the Macallan Horizon. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024 The most expensive house had four bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms, while the least expensive house had two bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms. Barbara Ruben, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Four of the top five most expensive U.S. counties by median housing price were located in California. County level data of housing statistics from the the American Community Survey shows how much homes are valued at across California. USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 Prolonged droughts adversely affect costs if suppliers need to buy a more expensive water supply, pump water from deeper underground or add treatment processes to clean degraded supplies, researchers with the Pacific Institute and the organization Dig Deep said in a recent report. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Nearly eight decades later, the Owl Burger remains a draw, but it’s become noticeably more expensive since Covid. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Gas used in the summer can be more expensive because it is made from pricier components, designed to evaporate less in the heat than winter gas. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 Flying back and forth to Naples that’s really penny pinching because Naples is pretty expensive. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 Classical education has historically been promoted by religious institutions and expensive prep schools. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expensive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expensive was circa 1610

Dictionary Entries Near expensive

Cite this Entry

“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expensive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

expensive

adjective
ex·​pen·​sive ik-ˈspen(t)-siv How to pronounce expensive (audio)
1
: costly sense 2
an expensive hobby
2
a
: having a high price
expensive gifts
b
: marked by high prices
expensive shops
expensively adverb
expensiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on expensive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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