# lavish

/ˈɫævɪʃ/ (US) · /lˈævɪʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lavish
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. expensive and impressive

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

very expensive, large, or impressive, often involving a lot of money or effort.

For teachers: characterised by extreme abundance, luxury, or expense; often implies a display of wealth or high quality.

- The hotel guests enjoyed a lavish breakfast with fresh fruit, pastries, and champagne.
- The production was famous for its lavish costumes and intricate set designs, which reportedly cost millions of dollars to produce.

Usage: Usually placed before a noun to describe events, gifts, or lifestyles.

### 2. very generous

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

giving or using a large amount of something, especially praise or money.

For teachers: bestowed in great abundance; marked by profusion or excess in giving.

- The critics were lavish with their praise for the young actor's performance.
- Despite his modest income, he was lavish in his hospitality, always ensuring his guests had the finest food and wine.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'with' or 'in'.

### 3. to give generously

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to give a lot of something, like money, attention, or love, to someone.

For teachers: to bestow something in great quantities upon a recipient. Transitive — requires a direct object and often takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon'.

- The grandparents like to lavish gifts on their grandchildren during the holidays.
- The media continued to lavish attention on the scandal, even after the primary suspects had been cleared of all charges.

Usage: Typically follows the pattern: lavish [something] on [someone].

## Examples

- They threw a lavish party for their wedding anniversary.
- The hotel lobby was decorated with lavish floral arrangements and gold-leaf furniture.
- Despite the country's economic struggles, the elite continued to enjoy a lavish lifestyle characterized by private jets and sprawling estates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.