extensive

adjective

ex·​ten·​sive ik-ˈsten(t)-siv How to pronounce extensive (audio)
Synonyms of extensivenext
1
: having wide or considerable extent
extensive reading
2
3
: of, relating to, or constituting farming in which large areas of land are utilized with minimum outlay and labor
extensively adverb
extensiveness noun

Examples of extensive in a Sentence

The storm caused extensive damage. an extensive series of tests
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The trio went on to write the original draft within the program, gaining hands-on experience in professional script development, conducting extensive rewrites, and addressing studio notes. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 May 2026 The children’s books, which largely attribute poverty in Vietnam to its communist government, also simplify history to play up communist aggression in the civil war—while omitting the extensive role that the United States military played in the conflict. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 7 May 2026 Years later, her then-husband suffered a devastating accident that left him in a coma for six weeks with a traumatic brain injury and extensive facial fractures. Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 7 May 2026 An update in the coming weeks will transform that app into Google Health, featuring a new interface with a more extensive Material Expressive aesthetic and redesigned menus and tabs. ArsTechnica, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for extensive

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of extensive was in 1605

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Cite this Entry

“Extensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extensive. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

extensive

adjective
ex·​ten·​sive ik-ˈsten(t)-siv How to pronounce extensive (audio)
: having wide or large extent
extensively adverb
extensiveness noun

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