cost
noun
\ ˈkȯst
\
\
Definition of cost
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: the amount or equivalent paid or charged for something : price
The average cost of a college education has gone up dramatically.
b
: the outlay or expenditure (as of effort or sacrifice) made to achieve an object
He achieved fame, but at the cost of losing several friends.
2
: loss or penalty incurred especially in gaining something
the cost of lives during war
3
costs plural
: expenses incurred in a judicial process
especially
: those given by the law or the court to the prevailing party against the losing party
at all costs
at cost
: regardless of the cost or consequences
was determined to win at all costs
: for the price of production
buys clothes at cost directly from the manufacturer
cost
verb
cost;
costing
Definition of cost (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to require expenditure or payment
The best goods cost more.
2
: to require effort, suffering, or loss
1
: to have a price of
Each ticket costs 25 dollars.
2
: to cause to pay, suffer, or lose something
Frequent absences cost him his job.
3
past costed\ ˈkä-stəd \
: to estimate or set the cost of
—often used with out The project has yet to be costed out.
\
: to estimate or set the cost of
—often used with out The project has yet to be costed out.
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Other Words from cost
Noun
costless
\ ˈkȯst-ləs
\
adjective
\
adjective
costlessly
adverb
Synonyms for cost
Synonyms: Noun
charge, disbursement, expenditure, expense, outgo, outlay
Synonyms: Verb
bring, fetch, go (for), run, sell (for)
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Examples of cost in a Sentence
Noun
She attends college at a cost of $15,000 a year. The average cost of raising a family has increased dramatically. We offer services at a fraction of the cost of other companies. What's the difference in cost? They believe that everyone should have access to adequate medical care, regardless of cost. The cost of doing business in this area is high. We need better cost control. Winning the war, he believes, was worth the cost in lives. What are the costs and benefits of the new law?Verb
The trip will cost you about $100 each way. The project will end up costing the government an estimated 3.5 billion dollars. It will cost you a lot of money, but it'll be worth it. His frequent absences ended up costing him his job. The error cost me a reprimand, but nothing more serious than that. a blunder that has cost her considerable embarrassment
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
We are concerned this weekend getaway vacation home might break their bank with unexpected costs. — Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: Couple doesn’t want advice about vacation home shopping to turn into a family feud," 29 Aug. 2019 In 2009, a female whooping crane—the first in her swoop to successfully fledge a chick—was shot and killed by an Indiana man who was later fined $1 and ordered to pay $550 in court costs. — Justin Rohrlich, Quartz, "What kind of animal would shoot a whooping crane?," 29 Aug. 2019 In recent months, there’s been speculation that drugmakers might use bankruptcy as a way to escape accountability and avoid billions of dollars in litigation costs. — Lindsey Simon, The Conversation, "Why companies file for bankruptcy – and how it protects both debtors and creditors," 29 Aug. 2019 Slow ticket sales, combined with higher insurance costs because of increasing player salaries, no longer made the pros vs. college game feasible. — Kori Rumore, chicagotribune.com, "In 1935, the Chicago Bears were looking to prove their legitimacy -- by taking on a team of college players," 28 Aug. 2019 If the county follows through with its plan to declare an emergency, the state would help with the costs of resources used to maintain order during the event. — Los Angeles Times, "Storming Area 51 started as a joke. But it’s a mystery as to how many will show up," 22 Aug. 2019 The Air Force originally planned to build 132 bombers, but the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, coupled with runaway development and unit costs, caused the Pentagon to trim the number to just 21 B-2s. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "How Makers of the B-21 Are Learning Lessons From the B-2 Bomber," 22 Aug. 2019 Confronted with housing costs that devour the bulk of their monthly incomes, some choose to move away. — Brian Goldstone, The New Republic, "The New American Homeless," 21 Aug. 2019 Tesla’s rental program will offer three solar panel packages, with no installation costs and no time commitment. — Jeff Andrews, Curbed, "Tesla will now rent solar panels to homeowners," 20 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The bikes, which can cost $2,000 or more, combine the frame of a regular bike with lightweight batteries and electric motors. — David Sharp, BostonGlobe.com, "Electric bikes soon to be humming along national park trails," 31 Aug. 2019 Donors, often churches, pay for the homes, which cost around $7,000 to build, take seven hours to install with basic tools and are built to last around 75 years, GoServ’s domestic director Dennis Anderson said. — Josh Verges, Twin Cities, "At the Fair, see how an Iowa company turns grain bins into disaster housing," 30 Aug. 2019 Kayla McGill, 32, of the 1100 block of Valley View Drive, Downers Grove, was charged with retail theft, after a security officer at Walmart, at 2189 75th St., saw her put merchandise, which cost $43, in her purse without paying for it. — Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Burr Ridge police blotter: Vehicle window broken and briefcase with cash, watches and iPad, reported stolen," 30 Aug. 2019 Unlike Super Mario Run, which cost $9.99 in the US, the game will be free to play, but will also include purchases for upgrades to racers. — Mike Murphy, Quartz, "Mario Kart is coming to your smartphone," 27 Aug. 2019 Sanchez Elementary, which cost almost $17.6 million to build, has 51 teachers and about 740 students. — Tyler Johnson, Houston Chronicle, "Take a look at 2 new Alvin ISD elementary schools," 27 Aug. 2019 The process, which will cost five thousand five hundred dollars, uses an eighth of the energy that cremation does. — Henry Alford, The New Yorker, "Everything You’re Afraid to Ask About Human Composting," 26 Aug. 2019 The easiest way to get there by air from the United States is to catch a flight to Denmark and then backtrack with a flight to one of Greenland’s airports, which will easily cost an additional $1,000, according to an online search. — Alyssa Newcomb, NBC News, "All that talk about Greenland has led to a triple-digit spike in tourism searches," 23 Aug. 2019 Between 2014 and 2016, Austin police issued 18,000 citations for rule violations, which cost as much as $500 with court fees, though many violators received only community service hours. — Tim Craig, Anchorage Daily News, "Should people have a legal right to sleep on city streets? The nation’s homeless crisis sparks a partisan battle.," 23 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cost.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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