quite expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite expensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is more costly than expected, such as: "The car repair was quite expensive, costing almost three times what I was originally quoted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Holders were quite expensive.

The New York Times - Books

"It was all quite expensive".

The Economist

It is, however, quite expensive.

The Economist

Still, £3.6m seems quite expensive.

The Guardian

People can be quite expensive.

The Guardian - Opinion

It could be quite expensive.

The Guardian

It is quite expensive for Berlin".

The Guardian

Mr. Ford's clothes are quite expensive.

The New York Times

"Jane Austen can be quite expensive.

The New York Times

It is quite expensive, being rich.

The Guardian - Opinion

But maintaining it is quite expensive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite expensive" to express that something is more costly than anticipated, but not necessarily unaffordable. For affordability emphasize on phrases as "prohibitively costly" instead.

Common error

While "quite expensive" is acceptable, overuse of "quite" can weaken your writing, especially in formal contexts. Consider stronger synonyms like "very", "considerably", or "extremely" to add impact to your sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite expensive" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the degree to which something is expensive. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quite expensive" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that costs more than anticipated. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's usable across various contexts. While it signals a higher price point, it doesn't necessarily imply unaffordability. The phrase sees frequent usage in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, reflecting its versatile nature. Remember to consider stronger synonyms or more precise language depending on the level of formality required. To emphasize unaffordability you can use phrases as "prohibitively costly".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Exorbitantly expensive

Similar in meaning but emphasizes an excessive or unreasonable cost.

Markedly expensive

Indicates a noticeable level of expensiveness, perhaps more than expected.

Prohibitively costly

Emphasizes the high cost makes something impossible to afford or obtain.

Noticeably expensive

Similar to markedly expensive, but with a slightly less formal tone.

Considerably overpriced

Highlights the perceived unfairness of the price relative to the value.

Steeply-priced

Uses a more formal tone to indicate a high price point.

Unreasonably high priced

Focuses on the lack of justification for the high cost.

On the pricier side

A more casual way of saying something is relatively expensive.

Astronomically priced

Uses hyperbole to emphasize an extremely high cost.

Premium priced

Suggests the higher cost is due to superior quality or features.

FAQs

What does "quite expensive" mean?

The phrase "quite expensive" suggests that something costs more than expected or is relatively high-priced. It indicates a level of expensiveness without necessarily implying that it's unaffordable.

How to use "quite expensive" in a sentence?

You can use "quite expensive" to describe the cost of items, services, or experiences. For example: "The repairs to my car were "quite expensive"" or "Living in the city is "quite expensive"".

What can I say instead of "quite expensive"?

You can use alternatives like "very expensive", "rather expensive", or ""prohibitively costly"" depending on the degree of expensiveness you want to convey.

Is "quite expensive" formal or informal?

The phrase "quite expensive" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, stronger alternatives like "considerably expensive" may be more appropriate.