expensive

[ik-spen-siv]

adjective

1. entailing great expense; very high-priced; costly.

   an expensive party.

   Antonyms: low-priced, cheap

expensive

/ ɪkˈspɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. high-priced; costly; dear

Other Word Forms

• expensively adverb
• expensiveness noun
• quasi-expensive adjective
• quasi-expensively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of expensive¹

First recorded in 1620–30; expense + -ive

Synonym Study

Expensive, costly, dear, high-priced apply to something that is high in price. Expensive is applied to whatever entails considerable expense; it suggests a price more than the average person would normally be able to pay or a price paid only for something special: an expensive automobile. Costly implies that the price is a large sum, usually because of the fineness, preciousness, etc., of the object: a costly jewel. Dear is commonly applied in England to something that is selling beyond its usual or just price. In the U.S., high-priced is the usual equivalent.

Example Sentences

Larry Gross, executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, said he fears developers will use the law to demolish rent-controlled duplexes, replacing them with more expensive apartment projects.

From Los Angeles Times

Educating children in special schools is significantly more expensive than in mainstream settings.

From BBC

The company has faced headwinds, including saturation of the EV market in California and federally imposed auto tariffs that make cars and parts more expensive.

From Los Angeles Times

Parents and carers have told the government childcare is too expensive and difficult to secure.

From BBC

The basic package is required for anyone wishing to play online multiplayer, and the more expensive versions give access to a wider range of games and perks.

From BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

What does expensive mean?

Expensive means something is high priced or costs a lot of money.Expensive is most often applied to items with very high prices, such as luxury cars. But it can also be used to describe things whose price or cost is simply high compared to others.Example: I like it, but it’s just too expensive. Do you have any lower-priced models?