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
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
In a video shared to TikTok on May 19, content creator Mister Lewis visits the restaurant and asks what the most expensive cocktail is.
—
Catherine Santino, People.com, 1 June 2025
Funding Litigation Through Philanthropy Legal advocacy is expensive.
—Michelle Mbekeani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Typically, United use metal mannequins which spike into the grass and are lighter, but the organisers had selected more expensive equipment in an attempt to please.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 31 May 2025
If allowed to stand, the bans would have affected consumers in every other state as automakers would have been forced to build far more EVs than demand could support, making gasoline cars more expensive as manufacturers raised prices to make up for EV losses.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expensive
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Catherine Santino, People.com, 1 June 2025
Funding Litigation Through Philanthropy Legal advocacy is expensive.
—Michelle Mbekeani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Typically, United use metal mannequins which spike into the grass and are lighter, but the organisers had selected more expensive equipment in an attempt to please.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 31 May 2025
If allowed to stand, the bans would have affected consumers in every other state as automakers would have been forced to build far more EVs than demand could support, making gasoline cars more expensive as manufacturers raised prices to make up for EV losses.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expensive
Cite this Entry
“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expensive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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
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