What Does Expensive Mean in a Sentence
In a sentence, expensive describes something that requires a high amount of money, resources, or opportunity cost. Financial reports, analyst notes, and SEC filings use expensive in sentence structures to compare asset valuations, operating costs, and capital expenditures. For example, a company may state that a project is too expensive if its internal rate of return falls below the cost of capital SEC EDGAR. This usage anchors the word in measurable financial terms rather than subjective opinion.
Everyday sentences often pair expensive with nouns such as car, watch, home, software license, or tuition. In business writing, expensive in sentence form frequently appears alongside figures like price, budget, margin, or premium. A clear example is, "The new factory proved expensive because construction costs exceeded the initial estimate by 30 percent." This structure links the adjective directly to a quantifiable outcome.
Expensive in Sentence Examples From Companies and Markets
Tesla describes certain battery materials and rare metals as expensive in sentence contexts that explain cost pressures in electric vehicle production Tesla Investor Relations. SpaceX has used expensive in sentence structures when discussing reusable rocket components, noting that refurbishment costs remain high despite design improvements. These real-world examples show how expensive in sentence form connects product strategy to capital intensity and supply chain realities.
Forbes and other financial outlets regularly use expensive in sentence examples when covering valuations of private startups, luxury brands, and real estate assets Forbes. A typical sentence reads, "The acquisition was expensive at 12 times trailing earnings, reflecting strong market consolidation." Such phrasing ties the adjective to specific multiples, deal terms, and peer benchmarks, making the meaning precise and verifiable.
How to Write Expensive in Sentence Structures That Work
Use Numbers and Comparisons
Effective sentences pair expensive with concrete data such as price per unit, total cost of ownership, or percentage of revenue. For instance, "The enterprise software license is expensive at 25,000 dollars per seat annually" gives the reader a clear reference point. This approach is common in earnings calls, investor presentations, and procurement documents where cost clarity matters.
Link Expensive to Outcomes
Strong writing connects expensive in sentence form to business outcomes like margin compression, ROI, or competitive disadvantage. An example is, "The legacy system became expensive to maintain after vendor support ended." This structure explains why the cost matters and how it affects operations, which is typical in risk disclosures and management discussion sections of annual reports SEC.gov.
Common Patterns in Formal Writing
In formal finance and legal writing, expensive in sentence patterns often follow the structure subject-verb-expensive-prepositional phrase. Examples include, "The bond issuance was expensive relative to comparable government debt" and "The insurance policy is expensive for high-risk assets." These constructions appear in prospectuses, offering memoranda, and credit agreements where precise cost description is required.
Short, Clear, and Factual
Keeping sentences short and factual improves readability and SEO performance. A direct sentence such as, "The raw material is expensive this quarter due to tariff changes" conveys the same meaning in fewer words. This style aligns with how financial journalists, analysts, and corporate communicators present cost information in public documents and news reports Forbes.