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
Critics dismissed it as expensive and unnecessary, arguing that students could read a guide or browse online forums for free.
—
Nia Bowers, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Mandatory spending—like those entitlement programs—is much more expensive than discretionary spending.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Also, tariffs themselves have made factory construction significantly more expensive.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
The nutritional benefits of eggs Eggs are the least expensive and most readily available source of protein in the world.
—Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expensive
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Nia Bowers, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Mandatory spending—like those entitlement programs—is much more expensive than discretionary spending.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Also, tariffs themselves have made factory construction significantly more expensive.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
The nutritional benefits of eggs Eggs are the least expensive and most readily available source of protein in the world.
—Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 25 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 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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