at a premium

Idioms  

1. At a higher price than usual owing to scarcity; also, considered more valuable, held in high esteem. For example, Since that article came out, the firm's stock has been selling at a premium and Space is at a premium in most stores. This idiom uses premium in the sense of “bounty” or “bonus.” [Mid-1800s] Also see put a premium on.

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Example Sentences

“Listed European network operators continue to trade at a premium to the valuations that corporates and institutional investors appear willing to pay in private transactions,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

The report concluded that “recent price gyrations notwithstanding, if there is a period when gold ought to be trading at a premium, it is now.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026

Trading at a premium to SpaceX might not be a good thing.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Both schools will have their top pitchers ready to go, which means runs will be at a premium.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

However, where personal space is at a premium, tensions are apt to spike much more quickly than in a place where one’s battle cry reaches maybe ten neighbors instead of a hundred.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• costly
• extravagant
• fancy
• high
• lavish
• overpriced
• pricey
• upscale
• valuable