adjective
expensive
Costing a large amount of money.
This restaurant is too expensive for our weekly family dinners.
Etymology
The Latin root concerns paying out. Expensive describes something that requires a substantial payment, identifying the demand it makes on the buyer’s resources.
More examples
- Fresh berries are more expensive in winter.
- Replacing the entire roof is an expensive repair.
- The most expensive jacket isn't necessarily the warmest.
Forms
expensive · more expensive · most expensive
expensively adverb — In a way that costs considerable money.
Similar words
- costly
- Often emphasizes the financial burden of buying or doing something.
- pricey
- An informal alternative, often suggesting a higher price than expected.
- exorbitant
- Describes a price that is unreasonably or excessively high.