extensive
adjective
ex·ten·sive
ik-ˈsten(t)-siv 
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
The books contain extensive notes on the drugs’ synthesis and effects.
—
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The Madison has extensive strains of DNA from Redford’s adaptation of The Horse Whisperer, with its emphasis on a rural escape as the ultimate salve for psychic wounds, but also Ordinary People, a film about the impact of grief on the family unit.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
IDrive retains the previous 10 file versions forever, and Acronis True Image includes extensive versioning capabilities for no additional cost.
—Justin Pot, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Spanning nearly two decades, the film draws on an extensive archive of personal material filmed across Syria, Denmark, Lebanon and Greece.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extensive
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Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The Madison has extensive strains of DNA from Redford’s adaptation of The Horse Whisperer, with its emphasis on a rural escape as the ultimate salve for psychic wounds, but also Ordinary People, a film about the impact of grief on the family unit.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
IDrive retains the previous 10 file versions forever, and Acronis True Image includes extensive versioning capabilities for no additional cost.
—Justin Pot, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Spanning nearly two decades, the film draws on an extensive archive of personal material filmed across Syria, Denmark, Lebanon and Greece.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extensive
Cite this Entry
“Extensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extensive. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
extensive
adjective
ex·ten·sive
ik-ˈsten(t)-siv
: having wide or large extent
extensively
adverb
extensiveness
noun
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