extensive

adjective

ex·​ten·​sive ik-ˈsten(t)-siv 

1

: having wide or considerable extent

extensive reading

2

: extensional

3

: of, relating to, or constituting farming in which large areas of land are utilized with minimum outlay and labor

extensively adverb

extensiveness noun

Synonyms

• broad
• deep
• expansive
• extended
• far-flung
• far-reaching
• rangy
• sweeping
• wide
• wide-ranging
• widespread

Examples of extensive in a Sentence

The storm caused extensive damage.

an extensive series of tests

Recent Examples on the Web

Right whales are identified by individual markings on their heads and bodies, with extensive photo catalogues managed by the New England Aquarium. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 23 May 2025

Make sure to include nuances, counter-intuitive insights, and advanced strategies that only someone with extensive experience would know. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

The platform is designed to run on a range of glasses and headsets that make extensive use of Google's AI bot, but there were only two experiences on display at I/O: an AR headset from Samsung known as Project Moohan and the prototype smart glasses. —Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025

Courtesy of Dyson Dyson has an extensive catalog of vacuums. —Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 22 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for extensive

• defensive
• expensive
• intensive
• offensive
• ostensive
• prehensive
• suspensive
• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive

Kids Definition

extensive

adjective

ex·​ten·​sive ik-ˈsten(t)-siv 

: having wide or large extent

extensively adverb

extensiveness noun