cost
kost
Cost (verb) means to require the payment of a certain amount of money. Example: “The repairs ended up costing far more than expected.”
verb
1
To require the payment of a certain amount of money.
"The repairs ended up costing far more than expected."
"How much does a ticket to the concert cost?"
"This coat cost me less than I had expected to pay."
2
To cause someone to lose something.
"That one mistake cost him his job."
"Being late again could cost you the chance to join the team."
"The careless remark cost her a good friend."
noun
1
The amount of money, time, or effort needed to get or do something.
"The cost of living has risen sharply in the city center."
"The cost of fixing the old roof was greater than we planned."
"Think about the cost in time before you agree to run the event."
2
A loss or negative result suffered in order to achieve something.
"They won the game, but at the cost of their star player's injury."
"He finished the marathon, but only at the cost of badly damaged knees."
"Success can come at a high cost to your family life."
How to use cost
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat you have to pay, lose, or give up to get or do something.
Common pairings
at all costs
cost of living
cost someone dearly
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Word forms
- Plural
- costs
- Third person singular
- costs
- Past tense
- costed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The repairs ended up _____ far more than expected.
Etymology
From Old French coster/couster, from Latin constare, "to stand together" or "to be settled at a price."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cost
See all rhymes for cost →Frequently asked questions
What does “cost” mean?
The word “cost” means to require the payment of a certain amount of money. In plain terms, what you have to pay, lose, or give up to get or do something.
How do you pronounce “cost”?
“Cost” is pronounced kost (/kɔst/ in IPA).
How do you use “cost” in a sentence?
Here is “cost” used in a sentence: “The repairs ended up costing far more than expected.”
What part of speech is “cost”?
Depending on how it is used, “cost” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “cost” come from?
The word “cost” comes from Latin. From Old French coster/couster, from Latin constare, "to stand together" or "to be settled at a price.".
Is “cost” a common word?
“Cost” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “cost” have?
“Cost” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to require the payment of a certain amount of money.
What is the difference between cost and price?
Price is the amount a seller asks for something — the figure on the label. Cost is what you actually have to pay or give up to obtain it, and it can include more than money, such as time or effort. As a verb, 'to cost' means to require that payment from you.
Is the past tense of cost 'cost' or 'costed'?
For the money sense, it stays the same: the meal cost twenty pounds yesterday. 'Costed' is a separate business term meaning to estimate or calculate the cost of something in advance, as in 'the project was costed at a million pounds.' Mixing the two up is a very common mistake.
What is an example of cost used as a verb?
You use it whenever something requires payment: 'These trainers cost eighty pounds,' or 'Fixing the car will cost more than I expected.' It can also describe a non-money loss, as in 'that mistake cost him his job,' meaning it caused him to lose it.
What is the difference between cost and worth?
Cost is the money something requires you to pay. Worth is the value it holds for you, which may be higher or lower than that figure. A cheap tool can be worth a great deal if it saves hours of work, while an expensive one may not be worth the price.
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