Definition

1. Noun:

   • The amount of money that is needed to pay for or obtain something: The price paid or required to acquire, produce, or maintain something.
   • An effort, loss, or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something: The negative consequence or price paid in non-monetary terms, such as time, health, or happiness.

2. Verb:

   • To have (a specified amount of money) as a price: To require the payment of a particular sum of money.
   • To cause the loss or sacrifice of something: To result in someone having to give up, suffer, or lose something valuable.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The cost of the new car was more than I expected.
  • He achieved fame, but at the cost of his personal relationships.
  • We need to reduce production costs.

• Verb:

  • How much does this book cost?
  • His reckless decision cost him his job.
  • The project will cost a great deal of time and effort.

Advanced Usage

• "At all costs" / "At any cost": Regardless of the expense, effort, or sacrifice involved.

  • We must protect the environment at all costs.

• "To one's cost": As a result of a personally negative or damaging experience.

  • He learned to his cost that trusting them was a mistake.

Variants and Related Words

• Costly (adj): Expensive; involving great loss or sacrifice.

  • The war was a costly victory.

• Costing (n): The process of calculating the cost of a project or product.

  • The engineer prepared a detailed costing for the bridge.

Synonyms

• Noun: Price, expense, charge, outlay, sacrifice, toll.
• Verb: Be priced at, sell for, set someone back (informal), lose, sacrifice.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cost out: To calculate the total cost of something.
  • We need to cost out the entire renovation before we begin.

Related Idioms

• Count the cost: To consider the negative consequences before acting.

  • He jumped into the investment without counting the cost.

• At the cost of: In exchange for losing or sacrificing something.

  • She built a successful career at the cost of her health.

Verb

1. require to lose, suffer, or sacrifice
   • This mistake cost him his job
2. be priced at
   • These shoes cost $100

Noun

1. value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to obtain something
   • the cost in human life was enormous
   • the price of success is hard work
   • what price glory?
2. the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
   • the fluctuating monetary value of gold and silver
   • he puts a high price on his services
   • he couldn't calculate the cost of the collection
3. the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor