highly expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly expensive" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something expensive that is more costly than usual. For example, "The rental property in that area is highly expensive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I don't like prolonged, highly expensive commissions, especially if they are chaired by judges.

The Guardian

Forcing postgraduates into the highly expensive system for undergraduates is unaffordable.

The Guardian

Over the pearly green water, a highly expensive nautical commodity floats under the soft blue sky.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nonetheless, Mr. Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld envision a high-tech military, with highly expensive new weapons.

The New York Times

We had the European Games there last year, which was a highly expensive vanity project.

The Guardian - Sport

"Smash" was also a highly expensive show, with a cost of about $4.2 million an episode.

The New York Times

Only about 20 percent of schools were public, with the rest highly expensive for the poor.

The New York Times

The operation is highly expensive, but Mr Steptoe believes several thousand women a year could soon be benefiting from it.

The Guardian

And not try and keep up with highly expensive, high-tech, American, or even future Russian and Chinese, forces.

The Guardian

But it is set to raise £4bn over three years for the Treasury, making its abolition highly expensive.

The Guardian

But in modern Britain, the next head of state should be more than a bad and highly expensive joke.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing expenses, pair "highly expensive" with specific figures or metrics to quantify the high cost. For instance, "The project was highly expensive, exceeding the initial budget by 40%."

Common error

While "highly expensive" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. Use varied vocabulary such as "prohibitively costly" or "exorbitantly priced" to maintain reader engagement and tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly expensive" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a significant level of cost. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in describing items or services that are considerably pricey. The phrase amplifies the attribute of being expensive.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly expensive" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote something with a remarkably high cost. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and common in written English. While "highly expensive" is versatile, consider varying your vocabulary by using synonyms like "prohibitively costly" or "exorbitantly priced" to prevent repetition. The phrase is most commonly encountered in News & Media and Scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. By following best practices and avoiding overuse, you can effectively convey the concept of high cost in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibitively costly

Emphasizes that the cost is so high that it prevents purchase or use.

extremely pricey

An informal way to say something is very expensive.

excessively high-priced

Highlights that the price is beyond what is reasonable or justifiable.

astronomically expensive

Suggests the price is so high it's almost unbelievable.

incredibly costly

Emphasizes the incredibility of the expense.

exorbitantly priced

Highlights that the price is much higher than it should be.

eye-wateringly expensive

An idiomatic expression to convey that something is shockingly expensive.

premium-priced

Indicates that the high cost is associated with superior quality or exclusivity.

top-tier pricing

More business-oriented, implying something is in the highest price range.

unfeasibly expensive

Focuses on the impracticality of affording the item.

FAQs

How can I use "highly expensive" in a sentence?

You can use "highly expensive" to describe items, services, or projects that cost significantly more than average. For example, "The treatment is "highly expensive", but it offers the best chance of recovery."

What are some alternatives to saying "highly expensive"?

Alternatives include "prohibitively costly", "extremely pricey", or "exorbitantly priced", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "very expensive" and "highly expensive"?

"Highly expensive" suggests a cost that is noticeably or remarkably above the average or expected price, while "very expensive" is a more general term for something that costs a lot. "Highly expensive" implies a more significant financial burden.

When should I use "highly expensive" instead of "costly"?

Use "highly expensive" when you want to emphasize the extreme cost of something. "Costly" is a more general term, while "highly expensive" conveys that the item or service is significantly above typical price ranges.