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
Margins are much lower in Japan for a variety of reasons: An important one is that the company is vertically integrated in Japan, doing installation in addition to manufacturing, which is more labor intensive and expensive given recent wage inflation.
—
Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024
Plus, homeowners remain reluctant to give up their less expensive mortgages.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 28 Sep. 2024
With prices up a full 57 percent in August alone, why not swim with the current and see what the most expensive and rare Day-Dates are looking like?
—Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2024
The new bridge construction, which started in late 2020, is part of the 6.7-mile long, $1.15 billion 30 Crossing project, which has been billed as the most expensive and complex project that the state has ever overseen.
—Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for expensive 
Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024
Plus, homeowners remain reluctant to give up their less expensive mortgages.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 28 Sep. 2024
With prices up a full 57 percent in August alone, why not swim with the current and see what the most expensive and rare Day-Dates are looking like?
—Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2024
The new bridge construction, which started in late 2020, is part of the 6.7-mile long, $1.15 billion 30 Crossing project, which has been billed as the most expensive and complex project that the state has ever overseen.
—Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 27 Sep. 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 5 Oct. 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