cost
/kɔst/
Reviewed on
Also a verb
Meaning
The amount of money needed to buy, make, or do something.
The cost of the repair was higher than we expected.
The money that a person or business must spend regularly.
We need to cut costs this year.
Something that is lost or given up to get something else.
He finished the race, but at the cost of a knee injury.
How it's used
This means “the price of something”
- the cost of + noun
The cost of living keeps going up.
Collocations
- low cost
- high cost
- total cost
- at cost
- the cost of living
- cut costs
- running costs
- cover the costs
- cost-effective
- human cost
Synonyms
- price
- charge
- expenses
- sacrifice
- loss
Antonyms
- benefit
- profit
Idioms
at all costs
no matter what you have to do or lose
We have to avoid a delay at all costs.
count the cost
to start to feel the bad results of something
The town is still counting the cost of the flood.
Meaning
To have a particular price.
How much does this jacket cost?
To make someone lose something.
One mistake cost the team the game.
How it's used
When this means “states a price; the past tense is also 'cost'”
- cost + amount
The tickets cost $40 each.
When this means “says how much someone paid”
- cost + person + amount
That phone cost me a lot.
When this means “says what someone lost because of something”
- cost + person + noun
Being late cost him the job.
Collocations
- cost a fortune
- cost extra
Synonyms
- sell for
Idioms
cost an arm and a leg
to be very expensive
That hotel cost an arm and a leg.