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
The neighborhood Grosvenor Square is one of the country’s most expensive addresses for a reason.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
The admissions process alone is expensive and often more exclusionary than inclusionary.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
One of their most expensive offseason additions was a fancy pitching machine.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 21 May 2026
In fact, this was the most expensive House primary in history with $33 million total spent on TV ads and a lot of it aimed at Massie, according to NPR ad-tracking partner AdImpact.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for expensive
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
The admissions process alone is expensive and often more exclusionary than inclusionary.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
One of their most expensive offseason additions was a fancy pitching machine.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 21 May 2026
In fact, this was the most expensive House primary in history with $33 million total spent on TV ads and a lot of it aimed at Massie, according to NPR ad-tracking partner AdImpact.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for expensive
Cite this Entry
“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expensive. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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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