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
Franklin has probably been too successful — and is presumably too expensive — to fire.
—
Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Rite Aid first filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, largely because of competition from bigger chains and its debt pile, which topped $4 billion due to expensive legal battles for allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Liz and Dick fell in love on the set of Cleopatra, the ridiculously expensive and lavish epic love story of the ancient Egyptian queen and the Roman general Mark Antony.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
These new pressures add to existing ones, such as building state-of-the-art facilities and hiring expensive coaches in hopes of landing recruits.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expensive
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Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Rite Aid first filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, largely because of competition from bigger chains and its debt pile, which topped $4 billion due to expensive legal battles for allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Liz and Dick fell in love on the set of Cleopatra, the ridiculously expensive and lavish epic love story of the ancient Egyptian queen and the Roman general Mark Antony.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
These new pressures add to existing ones, such as building state-of-the-art facilities and hiring expensive coaches in hopes of landing recruits.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 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 8 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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