Expensive Meaning
/ɪkˈspɛnsɪv/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjHaving a high price or cost.
adjTaking a lot of system time or resources.
Sentence Examples
Whenever I find something I like, it's too expensive.
If you think education is expensive, wait till you see what ignorance costs you.
It's too expensive and anyway the colour doesn't suit you.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The diamond ring was too ____ for the young couple to afford now.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The designer watch was so ____ that he had to save money for several years to buy it.
Word Origin & History
From Latin *expēnsīvus, from expendō (“to weigh out (money), to pay out”) (whence English expend). By surface analysis, expense + -ive. In the sense of "high-priced" has largely displaced dear.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"If successful, Edison and Ford—in 1914—would move society away from the ever more expensive and then universally known killing hazards of gasoline cars: air and water pollution, noise and noxiousness, constant coughing and the undeniable rise in cancers caused by smoke exhaust particulates."
— 2006, Edwin Black, “The Plan Against Oil”, in Internal Combustion: How Corporations and Governments Addicted the World to Oil and Derailed the Alternatives, New York: St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 2:
"In Starbucks’s case, the firm has in effect turned the process of making an expensive cup of coffee into intellectual property."
— 2013 June 22, “The G8 summit: T time”, in The Economist, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Jul 2013:
"[…] And that he looked into his own affairs, and underſtood them; That he had, when abroad, been very expenſive; and contracted a large debt (for he made no ſecret of his affairs); […]"
— 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter IV. Miſs Clarissa Harlowe, To Miſs Howe.”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 22:
"[…] thus naturally generous and expenſive, he ſquandered away his money, and made a moſt ſplendid appearance upon the receipt of his quarterly appointment; […]"
— 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter XXV, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume I, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 186:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The diamond ring was too ____ for the young couple to afford now.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The designer watch was so ____ that he had to save money for several years to buy it.