priced out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "priced out" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means that someone or something is unable to afford something due to the high price. Example: My friend was interested in buying a house in the city, but she was priced out of the market because the prices were too high.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"People are being priced out," she says.

The Guardian

Priced out by the super rich?

The Times

"They often get priced out of their neighbourhood and certainly their children do get priced out".

The Guardian

They could be locked out, priced out, dumped out.

The New York Times

But that's the working classes, priced out by the markets.

The Guardian - Opinion

"If we didn't jump, we would be priced out".

The New York Times

"Unhealthier people either pay more or are priced out completely".

The New York Times

Many of those now advising ministers are themselves "priced out".

The Guardian - Opinion

And so those priced out by gentrification become gentrifiers themselves.

The Guardian

Does that mean buyers are being priced out?

Forbes

Priced out?

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "priced out", consider adding context or qualifiers such as "local residents", "small businesses", or "first-time homebuyers" to clarify who is being affected by the high prices.

Common error

Avoid using "priced out" loosely without specifying the affected group or the specific item or area that has become unaffordable. Providing concrete details strengthens your argument and avoids generalizations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "priced out" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a subject that is unable to afford something. Ludwig examples show it modifying entities like "residents", "buyers", or even abstract concepts like "small producers", indicating they are excluded due to high costs. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "priced out" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that describes the state of being unable to afford something due to high costs. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary use is to express economic exclusion, particularly in contexts related to housing, market competitiveness, and socioeconomic trends. Ludwig examples show that it is commonly used in news and media, but also appears in academic and business contexts. When using the phrase, be specific about who or what is being affected and the specific item or area that has become unaffordable. Consider alternatives such as "unable to afford" or "too expensive for" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to afford

Focuses directly on the inability to pay due to cost.

too expensive for

Highlights that the cost exceeds someone's budget.

pushed out of the market

Emphasizes the competitive aspect of being unable to afford something.

beyond one's budget

Directly relates to financial constraints.

financially excluded

Highlights the exclusion due to financial reasons.

out of reach financially

Expresses that something is unattainable due to cost.

cost-prohibitive

Focuses on the prohibitive nature of the cost.

unable to compete due to cost

Highlights the inability to compete because of high costs.

priced beyond reach

Emphasizes the unattainability due to pricing.

unable to meet the price

Directly indicates an inability to pay the required price.

FAQs

How can I use "priced out" in a sentence about housing?

You can say, "Many young families are being "priced out" of the city's housing market due to rising property values".

What is a simple way to define "priced out"?

It means that the cost of something has increased to the point where someone can no longer afford it.

Which is more appropriate, "unable to afford" or ""priced out""?

"Priced out" specifically implies that rising costs are the reason someone cannot afford something, whereas "unable to afford" is a more general statement.

What can I say instead of ""priced out"" when discussing business?

Consider alternatives like "unable to compete due to cost" or "cost prohibitive" to convey the same meaning.