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

• costly
• valuable
• premium
• precious
• extravagant

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

Soil that’s too moist is heavy and expensive to ship and may cause sampling boxes to break apart. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025

Her property in the Island State, High Watch, is Rhode Island’s most expensive home. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025

There are fridge lockboxes that are not expensive. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025

Regulatory and input costs will make chips made at TSMC’s Arizona plant 20% more expensive than those made in Taiwan. —Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for expensive

• defensive
• extensive
• intensive
• offensive
• ostensive
• prehensive
• suspensive
• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive

Kids 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