expensive
/ɪkˈspensɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspensɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspen(t)-siv/ (ame, mw)
expensive — adjective
- expensivepositive
- more expensivecomparative
- most expensivesuperlative
1. Something that is expensive requires you to pay a large amount of money to buy i
Something that is expensive requires you to pay a large amount of money to buy it, use it, or keep it.
Salma thought the hotel was too expensive for a short weekend trip.
too + expensive + for [purpose]
Liang bought an expensive antique clock at the local auction.
bought + an expensive [item]
Hari put his phone in his bag because it was his most expensive thing.
The red dress that Dewi tried on was far too expensive for her student budget.
Élise booked a different hotel after learning how expensive the first one was.
- costly
More formal; often implies serious financial effort or a figurative loss (a costly mistake).
- pricey
Informal and conversational; common in everyday speech in both British and American English.
- dear
Chiefly British and somewhat old-fashioned; still used in the UK for basic goods (petrol is so dear these days).
- overpriced
Carries a negative judgment that the cost is unreasonably high for the quality or value.
- cheap
The most direct opposite; can sometimes suggest low quality as well as low price.
- inexpensive
Neutral and factual; does not carry the 'low quality' implication that 'cheap' sometimes has.
- affordable
Focuses on the buyer's ability to pay rather than the absolute price level.
文法句型
be + expensive
too + expensive + for + [noun]
the most expensive + [noun]
find + [noun] + (too) expensive
用法筆記
Can appear both before a noun (an expensive restaurant) and after the verb 'be' or similar linking verbs (the meal was expensive). Adverbs of degree such as very, too, quite, extremely, and rather are very common before this adjective.