expensive
expensive
Pronunciation
expensive /ɪkˈspɛnsɪv/
ex- /ɪk/:
/ɪ/ - a short "i" sound, as in "kit"
/k/ - a voiceless velar stop, as in "cat"
pen- /spɛns/:
/s/ - a voiceless alveolar fricative, as in "sit"
/p/ - a voiceless bilabial stop, as in "pat"
/ɛ/ - a short "e" sound, as in "bed"
/n/ - a voiced alveolar nasal, as in "nose"
/s/ - a voiceless alveolar fricative, as in "sit"
sive /ɪv/:
/ɪ/ - a short "i" sound, as in "kit"
/v/ - a voiced labiodental fricative, as in "van"
Word Form Variations
Adjective:
expensive (base form)
more expensive (comparative)
most expensive (superlative)
Adverb:
expensively
Noun:
expense (singular)
expenses (plural)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Costing a great deal of money; high-priced.
Synonyms: costly, pricey, dear, exorbitant, lavish, extravagant
Antonyms: cheap, inexpensive, affordable, economical, budget-friendly
Requiring significant resources, effort, or sacrifice to maintain or achieve.
Synonyms: demanding, burdensome, arduous, taxing, draining
Antonyms: easy, simple, effortless, undemanding, light
Adverb
In a manner that costs a lot of money.
Synonyms: dearly, lavishly, extravagantly, highly
Antonyms: cheaply, inexpensively, affordably, economically
Noun
The cost incurred in acquiring or maintaining something; money spent.
Synonyms: cost, charge, payment, outlay, expenditure, disbursement
Antonyms: income, revenue, profit, earnings, savings
Something that requires the spending of money or resources.
Synonyms: burden, liability, drain, drain on resources
Antonyms: asset, benefit, advantage, boon
Examples of Use
Books:
"He owned an expensive watch that he rarely wore, preferring to keep it safe in a velvet-lined box." (Example from a fictional novel)
"The construction of the new bridge proved to be an expensive undertaking, significantly exceeding initial budget estimates." (Example from a non-fiction book on civil engineering projects)
Newspapers:
"Nairobi's housing market continues to see an upward trend, with luxury apartments becoming increasingly expensive and out of reach for the average citizen." ( The Daily Nation, 2025)
"Analysts warn that the recent surge in oil prices will make consumer goods more expensive, potentially leading to inflationary pressures." ( The Standard, 2025)
Online Publications:
"Is renewable energy still too expensive for widespread adoption in developing nations? A new report weighs in." ( TechCrunch.com, 2025)
"We review the best budget smartphones of 2025, proving that a great phone doesn't have to be expensive." ( CNET.com, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: "That car chase scene must have been incredibly expensive to film, with all those explosions and stunts." (Common commentary during a film review or behind-the-scenes special)
Music/Song Lyrics: "She wears expensive clothes, but her heart is made of gold." (Lyric from a popular song, often indicating a contrast or observation about character)
Video Games: "Upgrading your weapon to the maximum level in this game is quite expensive, requiring a lot of in-game currency." (User forum discussion on a video game, e.g., Reddit r/gaming)
Podcasts: "Our guest today argues that the pursuit of higher education has become too expensive, leaving many graduates burdened with debt." (Discussion on an educational podcast, e.g., TED Talks Daily)
General Public Discourse:
"I really want to buy that new laptop, but it's just too expensive right now." (Everyday conversation between friends or family)
"The cost of living in the city is getting so expensive; it's hard to save any money." (Water cooler conversation among colleagues)
"Don't you think designer brands are ridiculously expensive just for the label?" (Opinion shared during a casual chat about shopping)
10 Famous Quotes Using Expensive
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." (Vernon Sanders Law) This is a metaphorical use where "hard teacher" implies "expensive" in terms of effort or suffering.
"What is bought is cheaper than a gift." (Portuguese Proverb) This implies that something given freely might come with hidden, "expensive" obligations.
"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." (Oscar Wilde) This quote suggests that true wisdom is an "expensive" acquisition, not something easily imparted.
"The most expensive thing in the world is trust. It can take years to earn and only a matter of seconds to lose." (Unknown)
"Friendship is like money, easier made than kept." (Samuel Butler) This implies that maintaining friendship can be "expensive" in terms of effort and compromise.
"It is not the eye that sees, but the heart." (Ojibwe Proverb) This can be interpreted metaphorically as superficial appearances (which can be expensive) are less important than inner truth.
"Freedom is never expensive at any price. It is the breath of life. What price can be put upon the breath of life?" (Mahatma Gandhi)
"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." (Jean-Jacques Rousseau) This suggests that patience is an "expensive" virtue in the short term, but yields valuable results.
"Good advice is always expensive, no matter how you get it." (Unknown)
"The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive." (Coco Chanel)
Etymology
The word "expensive" has its roots in Latin, going back to the idea of "weighing out" or "paying out" money.
Here's a breakdown:
Latin Connection: The core of "expensive" comes from the Latin verb expendō, which meant "to weigh out (money)" or "to pay out." This makes sense because back then, money (like coins) might literally have been weighed to determine its value when making a payment.
From "Expense": "Expensive" as we know it today is formed from the English word "expense" (which also comes from expendō) and the ending "-ive," which makes it an adjective (describing something).
First Known Use and Meaning:
The first known use of "expensive" in English was around the early 1600s, specifically around 1620s or 1628.
Interestingly, its very first meaning was a bit different from how we primarily use it now. It initially described a person who was "given to profuse expenditure," meaning someone who spent a lot of money, or was extravagant.
The more common meaning of "costly, requiring much expenditure" (referring to the item itself, rather than the spender) appeared shortly after, in the 1630s.
So, originally, if you were "expensive," it meant you had a lavish spending habit, but quickly, the word shifted to describe things that cost a lot of money.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Expensive
Expensive taste: Refers to a preference for costly items or luxurious things.
An expensive lesson: Learning something difficult or painful, often through a mistake that cost a lot (financially or otherwise).
Talk is cheap, actions are expensive: Emphasizes that it's easy to make promises, but fulfilling them requires significant effort or resources.
Paying an expensive price: Suffering severe consequences for an action or decision.
The most expensive habit: Often used humorously or seriously to describe a very costly personal habit (e.g., smoking, gambling).
High-end: (Using a synonym) Referring to products or services that are at the top of their range in terms of quality and price.
Cost an arm and a leg: (Idiom using a synonym) Meaning something is extremely expensive.
Break the bank: (Idiom using a synonym) To spend all of one's money.
A king's ransom: (Idiom using a synonym) An extremely large sum of money, implying something very expensive.
Worth its weight in gold: (Idiom implying high value/expense) Something extremely valuable or beneficial.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of expensive from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
