excessive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of excessive
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ( see excess, -ive); replacing Middle English excessif, from Middle French
Explanation
Excessive means beyond what is typical or normal. When something is excessive, there's way too much. Excessive refers to something that is extra — usually in a negative way. A 90-second drum solo in a two-minute song is excessive. Getting down on your knees and kissing someone's feet to thank them for a favor is excessive, unless they gave you their firstborn. Often this means something that exceeds the bounds of good taste, or is extravagant and inappropriately expensive. You should dress up for dinner, but wearing a ball gown to a diner is excessive.
Vocabulary lists containing excessive
The Bill of Rights
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Unit 2: Pivotal Words and Phrases
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List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What Google parent Alphabet will pay to settle a class-action lawsuit in the U.K. over allegations the tech giant charged excessive fees to app developers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Owen Lamont, portfolio manager at Acadian Asset Management, has written that excessive use of leverage by retail investors is a sign that the market is turning frothy.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 30, 2026
After early-life stress, they prevented SETD7 from adding excessive amounts of the H3K4me1 marker.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026
In excessive doses it can cause confusion or even delirium.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Two of the companies refused to pay the full amount, citing excessive insurance clauses.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
