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
As as the childcare sector needlessly crumbles, too many leaders with power and influence seem far removed from today’s reality of what families are going through, daily, to make work happen when childcare is this expensive and inaccessible.
—
Katherine Goldstein, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
Specialty checking accounts Business accounts are the most expensive and offer the lowest rates, WalletHub said.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Some said regulation that makes water more expensive could put them out of business.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
This team, the most expensive in NBA history, had to scrap and claw to make the play-in tournament.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Photo : Mercedes-Benz AG The most expensive car ever sold is a Mercedes
In 2022, an extremely rare Mercedes-Benz shattered records, becoming the most expensive car ever sold at auction.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2024
Economists disagree about why housing is so expensive, but many view shortages in the housing supply or corporate ownership of the housing stock as the greatest contributing factors.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
High interest rates and bond yields hurt prices for all kinds of investments, particularly those that look expensive or those that compete for the same kinds of investors as bonds do.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
Republicans are much more likely to say gas is very or extremely expensive, at 69 percent, compared to 46 percent of Democrats and 42 percent of independents.
—Emily Guskin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Katherine Goldstein, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
Specialty checking accounts Business accounts are the most expensive and offer the lowest rates, WalletHub said.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Some said regulation that makes water more expensive could put them out of business.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
This team, the most expensive in NBA history, had to scrap and claw to make the play-in tournament.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Photo : Mercedes-Benz AG The most expensive car ever sold is a Mercedes
In 2022, an extremely rare Mercedes-Benz shattered records, becoming the most expensive car ever sold at auction.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2024
Economists disagree about why housing is so expensive, but many view shortages in the housing supply or corporate ownership of the housing stock as the greatest contributing factors.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
High interest rates and bond yields hurt prices for all kinds of investments, particularly those that look expensive or those that compete for the same kinds of investors as bonds do.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
Republicans are much more likely to say gas is very or extremely expensive, at 69 percent, compared to 46 percent of Democrats and 42 percent of independents.
—Emily Guskin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
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 23 Apr. 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
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