Exorbitant Meaning
/ɪɡˈzɔːbɪtənt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjExceeding proper limits; excessive or unduly high; extravagant.
Sentence Examples
The price of this camera is exorbitant.
This year, the prices are simply exorbitant.
Some generous souls made exorbitant donations that helped save the orphanage.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hotel charged an ____ fee for a tiny cup of coffee during the conference.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hotel was beautiful, but the room rates were ____ and far beyond our modest budget.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English exorbitant, through Old French from Late Latin exorbitāns, present active participle of exorbitō (“to go out of the track”), from ex (“out”) + orbita (“wheel-track”); see orbit. Compare French exorbitant.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"But whatever might be the internal thoughts of Macedonian officers, they held their peace before Alexander [the Great], whose formidable character and exorbitant self-estimation would tolerate no criticism."
— 1856, George Grote, chapter XCIV, in History of Greece, volume XII, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, part II (Continuation of Historical Greece), page 282:
"Love, being an extremely exacting usurer (a sense of exorbitant profit, spiritually, by an exchange of hearts, being at the bottom of pure passions, as that of exorbitant profit, bodily or materially, is at the bottom of those of lower atmosphere), every morning his feelings were as sensitive as the money-market in calculations upon his chances."
— 1874, Thomas Hardy, “Gabriel’s Resolve—The Visit—The Mistake”, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC, page 38:
"In addition, many low-income people are “unbanked” (not served by a financial institution), and thus nearly eaten alive by exorbitant fees."
— 2015 January 19, Charles M[cRay] Blow, “How Expensive It Is to Be Poor”, in The New York Times (A section), New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Apr 2021, page 19:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The hotel charged an ____ fee for a tiny cup of coffee during the conference.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hotel was beautiful, but the room rates were ____ and far beyond our modest budget.