expensive

adjective

ex·​pen·​sive ik-ˈspen(t)-siv How to pronounce expensive (audio)
Synonyms of expensive
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 of expensive

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And if private schools enroll children who cost less to educate, public schools may be left with a greater share of students who need more expensive support. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 Likewise, regenerative agriculture, which outlaws increasingly expensive synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, can help growers keep costs down. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 His expensive loafers and a Starbucks cup bearing a different name eventually raised suspicions. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 The rigid enforcement of the NBA introduced another era of expensive hardbacks, giving a new lease of life to the middle-class circulating libraries. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expensive

Word History

Etymology

expense entry 1 + -ive

First Known Use

circa 1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expensive was circa 1617

Rhymes for expensive

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Browse Nearby Words

expenseless
expensive
expensively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expensive. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

expensive

adjective
ex·​pen·​sive ik-ˈspen(t)-siv How to pronounce expensive (audio)
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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