lavish

American  

[lav-ish] / ˈlæv ɪʃ /

adjective

1. expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion.

   lavish spending.

   Synonyms:

   wild, unrestrained, wasteful, unreasonable, thriftless, intemperate, improvident, immoderate, extravagant, excessive

   Antonyms:

   meager, sparing

2. using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often followed byof ).

   lavish of his time;

   lavish of affection.

   Synonyms:

   unsparing, openhanded, munificent, liberal, free, effusive, bountiful, generous

   Antonyms:

   tight-fisted, tight, stingy, parsimonious, miserly, cheap

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verb (used with object)

1. to expend or give in great amounts or without limit.

   to lavish gifts on a person.

   Synonyms:

   dissipate, squander, waste, shower, heap

   Antonyms:

   withhold, stint, begrudge

lavish British  

/ ˈlævɪʃ /

adjective

1. prolific, abundant, or profuse

2. generous; unstinting; liberal

3. extravagant; prodigal; wasteful

   lavish expenditure

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verb

1. (tr) to give, expend, or apply abundantly, generously, or in profusion

Related Words

Lavish, prodigal, profuse refer to that which exists in abundance and is poured out copiously. Lavish suggests (sometimes excessive) generosity and openhandedness: lavish hospitality; much too lavish. Prodigal suggests wastefulness, improvidence, and reckless impatience of restraint: a prodigal extravagance. Profuse emphasizes abundance, but may suggest overemotionalism, exaggeration, or the like: profuse thanks, compliments, apologies.

Other Word Forms

• lavisher
  noun
• lavishly
  adverb
• lavishment
  noun
• lavishness
  noun
• overlavish
  adjective
• overlavishness
  noun
• unlavish
  adjective
• unlavished
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lavish

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English lavas “profusion” (noun), “profuse” (adjective), from Middle French lavasse, lavache “downpour of rain,” derivative of laver “to wash,” from Latin lavāre

Explanation

Lavish means "generous and extravagant" as an adjective and "to give generously" as a verb. If you don't like it when people lavish you with attention, you might appreciate a lavish spread of excellent food instead. Lavish comes from the Old French lavache meaning "deluge, torrent," referring to rain. When you see it, think of a shower of good things coming down on you as you never use lavish with something bad. Didn't your parents lavish you with praise and love when you were small? With lavish as an adjective, you can rephrase that question like this: Didn't your parents offer you lavish praise and love when you were little?

Example Sentences

Trump's first trip to China in his second term will feature pomp and ceremony including a tour of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and a lavish state banquet, the White House said.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

Frank believes that lavish spending by the wealthy is distorting both the economy and society-at-large, affecting everyone up and down the income ladder — and contributing to this ongoing sense of dissatisfaction and frustration.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

Louis XIV staged lavish hunts at Versailles—which itself had started as a modest hunting lodge—complete with courtesans, orchestras and elaborate carriages.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

When Reynolds and Lively want a date night or need to head to events such as the Met Gala, they can crash at their lavish pied-à-terre in Manhattan.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Four Nights When Mark Antony and his men boarded the barge that evening, they found a lavish banquet arrayed before them.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby

Related Words

• bountiful
• effusive
• excessive
• extravagant
• exuberant
• generous
• gorgeous
• grand
• lush
• luxurious
• opulent
• plush
• posh
• profligate
• ritzy
• sumptuous
• swanky
• wasteful