expensive
adjective
ex·pen·sive
ik-ˈspen(t)-siv 
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
Synonyms
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
Loading your audio article A house in Monte Sereno that sold for $9.6 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Los Gatos in the past week.
—
Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 6 June 2024
The warship joined the Navy in 2018 and was updated to carry hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles, a new complex and expensive missile recently developed by Russia.
—Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 6 June 2024
Biologics are potent and quite expensive, which is why healthcare providers generally don't prescribe them right away.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 5 June 2024
Right now, the technology is far too new and expensive to make a meaningful dent in those emissions.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for expensive 
Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 6 June 2024
The warship joined the Navy in 2018 and was updated to carry hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles, a new complex and expensive missile recently developed by Russia.
—Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 6 June 2024
Biologics are potent and quite expensive, which is why healthcare providers generally don't prescribe them right away.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 5 June 2024
Right now, the technology is far too new and expensive to make a meaningful dent in those emissions.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for expensive
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.
Dictionary Entries Near expensive
Cite this Entry
“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expensive. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expensive
adjective
ex·pen·sive
ik-ˈspen(t)-siv
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share