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
Tubes burned out, making the total cost of owning a hearing aid expensive.
—
Scott D. Anthony, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Palladium and gold are expensive metals.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025
Money is tight for him, and attending the wedding would be expensive.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
However, as technology has advanced, fighters have become slow to develop and expensive to build.
—New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expensive
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Scott D. Anthony, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Palladium and gold are expensive metals.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025
Money is tight for him, and attending the wedding would be expensive.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
However, as technology has advanced, fighters have become slow to develop and expensive to build.
—New Atlas, 29 Nov. 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 3 Dec. 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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