Definition of expensive
1 : involving high cost or sacrifice an expensive hobby
2a : commanding a high price and especially one that is not based on intrinsic worth or is beyond a prospective buyer's meansb : characterized by high prices expensive shops
expensively
adverbexpensiveness
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of expensive in a Sentence
The lights were expensive to install.
expensive clothing that only the truly wealthy can afford
Recent Examples of expensive from the Web
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And Will Boyd, a minister and former Greenville city councilman, said the wall is much too expensive.
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Traveling with a suitcase has become an expensive headache for airline flyers.
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Zalewski says the plan is an overhaul and extension of a corporate tax incentive program which has been criticized as expensive and too favorable to large businesses.
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Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France, but prosecco, which does not, steps in as a less expensive substitute just fine.
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Brent for December is still about 35 cents a barrel more expensive than a year later, far more than during a similar wobble earlier this month.
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But, and this is a big but, before investing in some expensive ones, look deep into your soul.
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But water is now a more expensive resource, and because avocado trees are traditionally not pruned, older trees have dense foliage that discourages fruiting.
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With hydrogen ruled out as a buoyant material for obvious reasons, the next best option is helium, which is more expensive and less effective.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expensive'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Circa 1610
First Known Use of expensive
circa 1610
Other Economics Terms
EXPENSIVE Defined for English Language Learners
expensive
playDefinition of expensive for English Language Learners
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: costing a lot of money
EXPENSIVE Defined for Kids
Learn More about expensive
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See words that rhyme with expensive Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for expensive Spanish Central: Translation of expensive Nglish: Translation of expensive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of expensive for Arabic speakers
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