cost
[ ˈkȯst]
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.
//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.
//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
//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
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
//was determined to win at all costs
: for the price of production
//buys clothes at cost directly from the manufacturer
//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.
//The best goods cost more.
2 : to require effort, suffering, or loss
1 : to have a price of
//Each ticket costs 25 dollars.
//Each ticket costs 25 dollars.
2 : to cause to pay, suffer, or lose something
//Frequent absences cost him his job.
//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.
Other Words from cost
Noun
costless \ ˈkȯst-ləs \ adjective
costlessly adverb
Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty
Synonyms: Verb
- bring,
- fetch,
- go (for),
- run,
- sell (for)
Synonyms: Noun
Recent Examples on the Web
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
//And Gilead has drawn widespread criticism from HIV/AIDS advocacy groups for its steep pricing of Truvada, which, using list pricing, has an annual cost of $21,388 per patient in the United States.
— Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, "Untangling the Trump administration’s lawsuit over an HIV prevention drug," 8 Nov. 2019
//According to an email from Wolfe, that cost was typically $1,500.
— Robert Anglen, azcentral, "Babies and mothers were treated like transactions in Paul Petersen's adoption scheme," 7 Nov. 2019
//But behind the scenes, according to an independent survey of 2,400 Qantas pilots and cabin crew, there are significant costs for these female pilots.
— Natasha Frost, Quartz at Work, "Qantas’ search for female pilots has led to more workplace harassment," 4 Nov. 2019
//For most people in Ascension Parish, however, the pollution and attendant cancer risk of living in the river corridor is an acceptable cost for achieving a certain lifestyle.
— Joan Meiners, ProPublica, "Even Louisiana’s Wealthier Neighborhoods Can’t Escape Toxic Air in “Cancer Alley”," 3 Nov. 2019
//Still, many — including Neighborhood Works — wonder whether the cost will be too high, given the heightened code work now being called for.
— Tad Vezner, Twin Cities, "St. Paul man’s catch-22 case reveals impact of ‘accelerated foreclosure’ in Frogtown and other low-income neighborhoods," 2 Nov. 2019
//There's no extra cost to choose a particular seat in your section, and a new 3D seat map is available during booking so passengers can get a virtual tour of the aircraft and its features.
— Kellie Hwang, Indianapolis Star, "A United flight from Indianapolis to Chicago just got a lot cushier with new plane," 1 Nov. 2019
//Legal fees alone are a major cost adding to the overall expense on water projects.
— Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, "Letters: Allowing sports betting for such a small return is a mistake; Reduce waste in trash pickup (," 30 Oct. 2019
//With a solid cellular plan, the study should have been cost effective.
— Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Text Messages Sent by Roaming Eagles Bankrupt Scientific Study," 29 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
//For starters, go to the Rincon Surf School, near Sandy Beach, and sign up for a lesson, which costs $95 per person for a 3-hour group lesson.
— Iris Van Rynbach, courant.com, "Rincon, Puerto Rico, an ideal destination for a family vacation," 10 Nov. 2019
//But there are also a lot of gadgets that cost a lot of money and do nothing.
— Wired, "12 Boozy Gift Ideas for the Amateur Bartender in Your Life," 10 Nov. 2019
//So, much like the New York Times, I, too, question why there need to be an additional 500 more officers patrolling the subways — which would cost the Metropolitan Transportation Authority more than $50 million a year.
— Michael Arceneaux, Essence, "Does The NYPD Have Nothing Better To Do Than Point Guns At Black Kids Over $2.75?," 8 Nov. 2019
//The 4-mill safety levy, which costs a $100,000 homeowner $140 annually, will raise $1.2 million a year.
— John Benson, cleveland, "Olmsted Falls residents approve levy renewals; Olmsted Township voters pass safety-forces levy," 8 Nov. 2019
//In the movie, which cost just under $100 million and is out Nov. 15, Matt Damon portrays Carroll Shelby, the engineering legend who built Miles' iconic car, the Ford GT40.
— Jon Alain Guzik, The Hollywood Reporter, "How 'Ford v Ferrari' Team Filmed an Epic Race: "It's Almost Like a Gunfight"," 8 Nov. 2019
//Under a plan that would cost up to $20 million to design and build, those seven stop lights would disappear and five roundabouts would take their place.
— Susannah Bryan, sun-sentinel.com, "Young Circle could become world’s only giant two-way traffic circle," 6 Nov. 2019
//The shoes, which cost roughly $250, are now being used by recreational marathoners, according to the Wall Street Journal.
— Fox News, "Record breaking Nike sneaker sparks competitive advantage debate ahead of New York City Marathon," 3 Nov. 2019
//Some might also be tempted to go off the grid, installing solar panels and batteries, like a Tesla Powerwall, which cost up to $20,000.
— Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, "Everyone is buying generators to get through PG&E outages. Here’s what you need to know," 1 Nov. 2019
First Known Use of cost
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
History and Etymology for cost
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French custer, couster, from Latin constare to stand firm, cost — more at constant
Dictionary Entries near cost
Phrases Related to cost
More Synonyms and Antonyms ofcost
Synonyms of cost
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
a payment made in the course of achieving a result
- the newlyweds spared no cost in building the kitchen of their dreams
Synonyms for cost
Words Related to cost
2
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something
- we can't afford the cost of a house just yet, so we're renting an apartment
Synonyms for cost
Words Related to cost
cost
verbSynonyms of cost (Entry 2 of 2)
to have a price of
- the raffle tickets cost a dollar each
Synonyms for cost
- bring,
- fetch,
- go (for),
- run,
- sell (for)
Words Related to cost
More Definitions forcost
cost
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of cost
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the price of something : the amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something
: an amount of money that must be spent regularly to pay for something (such as running a business or raising a family)
: something that is lost, damaged, or given up in order to achieve or get something
cost
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of cost (Entry 2 of 2)
: to have (an amount of money) as a price
: to cause (someone) to pay an amount of money
: to cause (someone) to lose something
cost
verb\ ˈkȯst \
cost; costing
Kids Definition of cost
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to have a price of
//He bought a ticket costing one dollar.
//He bought a ticket costing one dollar.
2 : to cause the payment, spending, or loss of
//Being lazy cost me my job.
//Being lazy cost me my job.
cost
nounKids Definition of cost (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : the amount paid or charged for something : price
2 : loss or penalty involved in gaining something
//Losing my friends was the cost of moving.
//Losing my friends was the cost of moving.
cost
nounLegal Definition of cost
1 : the amount or equivalent paid or charged for something
2 plural : expenses incurred in litigation especially : those given by the law or the court to the prevailing party against the losing party