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 specialized chips that enable this process are enormously expensive.
—
Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
As Kahn notes, by lowering the barriers to writing code, AI could unleash a new wave of companies building specialized business applications, no longer dependent on scarce, expensive coding talent.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
The good news is that this does not have to mean obscure powders, expensive berries flown in from Japan, or a breakfast that tastes like punishment.
—Siya Bhambwani, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2026
Police believe one person is responsible for an expensive vandalism spree in Union County, New Jersey.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expensive
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Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
As Kahn notes, by lowering the barriers to writing code, AI could unleash a new wave of companies building specialized business applications, no longer dependent on scarce, expensive coding talent.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
The good news is that this does not have to mean obscure powders, expensive berries flown in from Japan, or a breakfast that tastes like punishment.
—Siya Bhambwani, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2026
Police believe one person is responsible for an expensive vandalism spree in Union County, New Jersey.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 6 Apr. 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 7 Apr. 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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