What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
expensively
Example
The hotel room was expensively furnished with designer decor. [expensively: adverb]
Example
She dressed expensively for the gala, wearing a designer gown and jewelry. [expensively: adverb]
costly
Example
The repairs to the car were quite costly, requiring a lot of money. [costly: adjective]
Example
The company's decision to expand was a costly mistake, resulting in financial losses. [costly: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Costly is more commonly used than expensively in everyday language. Costly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while expensively is less common and refers to a specific aspect of cost.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between expensively and costly?
Both expensively and costly are formal words that are typically used in professional or academic contexts.
