1
a
: 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
costlessly
adverb
cost; costing
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
: to estimate or set the cost of
—often used with outThe project has yet to be costed out.
Synonyms
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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Alexander Smith, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Thyssenkrupp reported net loss for the fourth quarter and its fiscal year on a tougher market that included higher costs and lower earnings at Steel Europe.
—David Sachs, WSJ, 22 Nov. 2023
Now, faced with housing shortages and tensions over immigration, there’s a new consensus against unbridled growth at all costs.
—April Roach, Fortune Europe, 21 Nov. 2023
Dangling a telescope from a balloon more than 30 kilometers up offered an ideal solution, achieving nearly the same resolution as a space telescope at a fraction of the cost.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Nov. 2023
Most of the revenue is used to cover the costs of enforcement.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
Price The best fall candles can vary in cost based on several factors like size, wax type, and brand.
—Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023
Burning less fossil fuel also improves air quality, reducing health care costs.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023
While those potential revenues aren’t calculated into the numbers, city finance officials warn that many potential costs are also absent.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
The Troisgros enterprise is a major business, and the money that sustains it is discussed onscreen, as with the mentions of seating fifty-four diners for a lunch costing more than three hundred euros per head, and of bottles of wine that sell for ten, fifteen, even twenty thousand euros.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023
Tickets for Friday’s game will cost $24 for general admission and $12 for students.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The Department of Defense policy offering paid leave and travel reimbursement to service members for reproductive health care, including abortions, would cost less than $1 million annually, according to a new analysis published Friday.
—Nicole Wetsman, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2023
The state’s Senate contest last year, which pitted Senator Mark Kelly against Blake Masters, the Republican nominee, cost more than $225 million.
—Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023
Quoting analysis from trade publication Railway Age, grain-hauling railcars now cost over $600 per month to lease for 5-to-7-year terms, which is higher than in early 2020—when rates were around $400 per month.
—WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023
Overall, the six months of Hollywood strikes is estimated to have cost the Southern California economy more than $6.5 billion and 45,000 entertainment industry jobs.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Nov. 2023
Potty trainer costs The cost of services ranges based on where the potty trainer and family reside and what the fair market value is in that region, with phone consultations being the more affordable option.
—Francyne Zeltser, Parents, 29 Oct. 2023
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Noun
In 2005, then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rode against strong domestic opposition to dismantle these settlements, citing the security and financial cost to Israel, as well as Palestinian rights.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Thyssenkrupp reported net loss for the fourth quarter and its fiscal year on a tougher market that included higher costs and lower earnings at Steel Europe.
—David Sachs, WSJ, 22 Nov. 2023
Now, faced with housing shortages and tensions over immigration, there’s a new consensus against unbridled growth at all costs.
—April Roach, Fortune Europe, 21 Nov. 2023
Dangling a telescope from a balloon more than 30 kilometers up offered an ideal solution, achieving nearly the same resolution as a space telescope at a fraction of the cost.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Nov. 2023
Most of the revenue is used to cover the costs of enforcement.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
Price The best fall candles can vary in cost based on several factors like size, wax type, and brand.
—Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023
Burning less fossil fuel also improves air quality, reducing health care costs.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023
While those potential revenues aren’t calculated into the numbers, city finance officials warn that many potential costs are also absent.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Verb
Others, however, like the Aquasana Whole House Well Water Filter System, can cost a couple thousand dollars.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
The Troisgros enterprise is a major business, and the money that sustains it is discussed onscreen, as with the mentions of seating fifty-four diners for a lunch costing more than three hundred euros per head, and of bottles of wine that sell for ten, fifteen, even twenty thousand euros.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023
Tickets for Friday’s game will cost $24 for general admission and $12 for students.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The Department of Defense policy offering paid leave and travel reimbursement to service members for reproductive health care, including abortions, would cost less than $1 million annually, according to a new analysis published Friday.
—Nicole Wetsman, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2023
The state’s Senate contest last year, which pitted Senator Mark Kelly against Blake Masters, the Republican nominee, cost more than $225 million.
—Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023
Quoting analysis from trade publication Railway Age, grain-hauling railcars now cost over $600 per month to lease for 5-to-7-year terms, which is higher than in early 2020—when rates were around $400 per month.
—WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023
Overall, the six months of Hollywood strikes is estimated to have cost the Southern California economy more than $6.5 billion and 45,000 entertainment industry jobs.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Nov. 2023
Potty trainer costs The cost of services ranges based on where the potty trainer and family reside and what the fair market value is in that region, with phone consultations being the more affordable option.
—Francyne Zeltser, Parents, 29 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cost.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French custer, couster, from Latin constare to stand firm, cost — more at constant
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of cost was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing cost
Articles Related to cost
Dictionary Entries Near cost
Cite this Entry
“Cost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cost. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
cost
2 of 2 verb
cost; costing
1
: to have a price of : require payment of
each ticket costs one dollar
2
: to cause one to pay, spend, or lose
mistakes cost him his job
Legal Definition
cost
noun1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on cost
Nglish: Translation of cost for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of cost for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cost
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