cost

noun

ˈkȯst 

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

costless

ˈkȯst-ləs 

adjective

costlessly adverb

see also:

at all costs at cost

Synonyms of cost

• expense
• expenditure

Examples of cost in a Sentence

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?

Recent Examples on the Web

Data centers, oil refineries, and shipping lanes are the targets now, and low-cost drones have made striking them cheaper than ever. —Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 9 June 2026

Bass has called for hiring more officers and defending her Inside Safe homelessness program, while Raman has criticized the cost of police raises, called for broader public-safety responses and argued that the city needs a more accountable and cost-effective homelessness system. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 June 2026

To them, anything that smacks of architectural excess in a public building looks like a waste of money, even if the sums are piddling compared to the cost of invisible features like truck ramps, security systems, and ventilation. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 June 2026

These are early warning signs that burnout is building, and the cost of ignoring them might show up in attrition, sick days, and quiet quitting long before anyone formally calls in. —William Jones june 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cost

• at a cost
• at cost
• at cost price
• at no cost
• at the cost of
• cost accountant
• cost accounting
• cost an arm and a leg
• cost-benefit
• cost cutting
• cost-effective
• cost-efficient
• cost money
• cost of living
• cost-of-living index
• cost-plus
• cost-push
• cost (someone) dearly/dear
• count the cost
• dollar cost averaging
• indirect cost
• it'll cost (someone)
• not cost a dime/nickel
• not cost a penny
• opportunity cost
• prime cost
• to one's cost

Rhymes for cost

• bossed
• crossed
• dost
• glossed
• lost
• prost
• rost
• tossed
• accost
• crisscrossed
• defrost
• embossed

Kids Definition

cost

1 of 2 noun

ˈkȯst 

1

: the amount paid or charged for something : price

2

: the loss or penalty involved in achieving a goal

won the battle at the cost of many lives

3

plural : legal expenses given to the winning side against the losing side

fined $50 and costs

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

noun

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