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
Synonyms
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
Data streaming solutions are costly to build and even more expensive to fix later.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Even for people who are beyond the income limits for Medi-Cal, however, paying for home care themselves can be prohibitively expensive.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Since OpenAI has no initial public offering immediately on the horizon and a price tag that makes the company prohibitively expensive for would-be acquirers, secondary stock sales are the only way in the near future for shareholders to pocket a portion of their paper wealth.
—Hayden Field,kate Rooney, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024
By contrast, cubed stuffing mix, fresh cranberries and dinner rolls are more expensive this year.
—Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for expensive 
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Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Even for people who are beyond the income limits for Medi-Cal, however, paying for home care themselves can be prohibitively expensive.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Since OpenAI has no initial public offering immediately on the horizon and a price tag that makes the company prohibitively expensive for would-be acquirers, secondary stock sales are the only way in the near future for shareholders to pocket a portion of their paper wealth.
—Hayden Field,kate Rooney, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024
By contrast, cubed stuffing mix, fresh cranberries and dinner rolls are more expensive this year.
—Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for expensive
Dictionary Entries Near expensive
Cite this Entry
“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expensive. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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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