How to pronounce extensive
Say it like ik-STEN-siv. Extensive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce extensive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- STEN
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Extensive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- STENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of extensive
American and British speakers say extensive in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/ in the US and /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-STEN-siv.
What does extensive mean?
- large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity“an extensive Roman settlement in northwest England”“extended farm lands”
- broad in scope or content“across-the-board pay increases”“an all-embracing definition”
- of agriculture; increasing productivity by using large areas with minimal outlay and labor“producing wheat under extensive conditions”“agriculture of the extensive type”
Where does extensive come from?
From late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin extensīvus, from Latin extensus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with extensive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of extensive.
Questions about saying extensive
How do you pronounce extensive?
Say ik-STEN-siv. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/. In British English it is /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in extensive?
Extensive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STEN). Broken into parts: ik · STEN · siv.
Do Americans and Brits say extensive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/ and the British form is /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.