What does expensively mean?
'Expensively' is an adverb meaning in a manner that involves great cost. It describes actions — buying, dressing, furnishing, educating — done at considerable financial expense. The word typically evokes luxury and refinement: an expensively tailored suit or an expensively decorated home suggests high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Yet it can also carry a note of criticism when spending seems excessive or wasteful, as in a project that was expensively conceived but poorly executed. Derived from the noun 'expense', which traces back through Old French to Latin 'expens-', the past-participle stem of 'expendere', meaning to weigh out or pay, it belongs to a family of English words concerned with money and payment. Common pairings include 'expensively dressed', 'expensively furnished', and 'expensively educated', the last often signalling privilege. Precise and economical despite its costly subject, the word lets writers characterise not just price tags but lifestyles, priorities, and values.
adverbIn a way that costs a great deal of money; at great expense.
- In a manner involving great cost or expense.
- At high cost relative to value paid (sometimes implying wastefulness).
"The lobby was expensively furnished with marble floors and crystal chandeliers."
"She was expensively educated at a private boarding school in Switzerland."
"The project failed largely because it had been expensively and hastily planned."
Dressed 'expensively' and dressed 'extensively' differ by one letter — but only one of them will empty your wallet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of expensively
'Expensively' derives from the adjective 'expensive', formed from the noun 'expense', which came into English via Anglo-Norman and Old French from Latin 'expens-', the past-participle stem of 'expendere', meaning to weigh out or pay out. The adjective 'expensive' emerged in English in the early 17th century, and its adverbial form followed naturally. Cognate forms sharing this Latin root include 'expend', 'expenditure', and 'compensate'.
Related word forms
How expensively is actually used
'Expensively' is neutral in register but often carries connotations of luxury or conspicuous wealth, as in 'expensively dressed' or 'expensively furnished'. In some contexts it can imply money spent unwisely rather than simply spent lavishly.
Easily confused with expensively
'Extensively' means covering a large area or scope, while 'expensively' means costing a lot of money.