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
Booking travel is expensive these days, from the cost of trains or planes to paying for your luggage, lodgings and more.
—
Ryley Amond, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
Indeed, despite the trillions of federal dollars that were committed or spent to boost local economies, voters blamed Biden and Harris for high inflation that raised the cost living as food, housing, healthcare and other necessities got more expensive.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
And what was considered expensive has drastically changed over the last 10 years.
—Maddie McGay, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Get ready for your kids’ lunches to get more expensive too.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expensive
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Ryley Amond, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
Indeed, despite the trillions of federal dollars that were committed or spent to boost local economies, voters blamed Biden and Harris for high inflation that raised the cost living as food, housing, healthcare and other necessities got more expensive.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
And what was considered expensive has drastically changed over the last 10 years.
—Maddie McGay, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Get ready for your kids’ lunches to get more expensive too.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 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 23 Oct. 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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