cheap

adjective

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\ ˈchēp

Definition of cheap

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : charging or obtainable at a low price a good cheap hotel cheap tickets

b : purchasable below the going price or the real value

c : depreciated in value (as by currency inflation) cheap dollars

2a : of inferior quality or worth : tawdry, sleazy cheap workmanship

b : stingy My uncle was too cheap to pay for dinner.

c : contemptible because of lack of any fine, lofty, or redeeming qualities feeling cheap I felt cheap, full of shame and guilt

3 : gained or done with little effort a cheap victory talk is cheap

4 of money : obtainable at a low rate of interest

cheap

adverb

Definition of cheap (Entry 2 of 3)

: for little cost : cheaply was able to buy it cheap "It all seems to centre round that bust of Napoleon which I bought for this very room about four months ago. I picked it up cheap from Harding Brothers, two doors from the High Street Station."— Arthur Conan Doyle

cheap

noun

Definition of cheap (Entry 3 of 3)

obsolete

: bargain — see also for cheap, on the cheap

Other Words from cheap Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing cheap Learn More About cheap

Other Words from cheap

Adjective

cheapish \ ˈchē-pish

\ adjective

cheapishly adverb

cheaply \ ˈchē-plē

\ adverb

cheapness noun

Examples of cheap in a Sentence

Adjective I always buy the cheapest brand of cereal. curtains made of cheap material He wears a cheap watch that's always breaking. This gas station is cheaper than the one by the highway. Don't be cheap—buy good quality tires for your car.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Russian oil is cheap now, and other Asian countries like India have snapped it up too. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2022 By comparison, Portugal is cheap and ranks in the lower third of EU countries by income. — Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 But repairing a flat tire is quick and easy, and the equipment required to do so is cheap. — Wes Siler, Outside Online, 30 July 2022 The windows were tall, the floors were concrete, the large open spaces were bathed in natural light, and — perhaps most importantly — the rent was cheap. — Giacomo Bologna, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2022 This Runleader meter is cheap, comes in three colors, and the battery will last 5 years. — Alex Rennie, Popular Mechanics, 29 July 2022 Her flight and hotel room were cheap for the same reasons. — Dawn Gilbertson, WSJ, 27 July 2022 Our shoes aren’t cheap – the Park Avenue oxford retails for $395 – but it’s an investment that lasts and last. — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Prices have dropped in July, but gas still isn’t cheap. — Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, al, 22 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cheap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.