costs 1 of 2

Definition of costsnext
plural of cost
1
as in expenses
a payment made in the course of achieving a result the newlyweds spared no cost in building the kitchen of their dreams

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
as in prices
the loss or penalty involved in achieving a goal they won the war, but at a terrible cost in lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

costs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cost

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of costs
Noun
Takaichi had earlier laid out a record $783 billion budget for the next fiscal year starting April 1, on top of a $135 billion stimulus package introduced last year to help households with rising living costs. Cnbc.com Staff, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026 Falling launch costs, fueled largely by reusable rockets, have transformed access to low Earth orbit (LEO), turning it into a fast-evolving marketplace where companies compete and innovate at rapid speed. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026 This fragmentation creates blind spots that contribute to adverse drug events, duplication of therapy and inefficient care and harms that ultimately drive up total health care costs. Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026 This goes to show that a policy designed to lower costs could instead eliminate access altogether. Julio Fuentes, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026 Investment is needed to cover costs of running a quality program, pre-K teachers should be paid the same as their K-12 peers and access should be expanded through partnerships with private child care providers, according to the institute. Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026 The figure includes salary and compensation like housing costs, but doesn’t include the salaries of consultants — some of the council members had as many as 20 in their offices. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026 The rollout of TrumpRx fits into a suite of White House programs designed to address rising costs, an area of vulnerability for Republicans ahead of the November midterms. Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026 With such a small increase, insurers immediately warned that seniors with MA plans would see benefit cuts and higher costs in 2027. Medora Lee, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Beyond that, self-parking typically costs $25 per day but may cost more during special events. Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Worse, may car owners act like their car only costs the incremental cost of operating it, which can appear be under 5 cents/mile in an EV. Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costs
Noun
  • Similar to the current year, district officials pointed to four major inflationary budget challenges projected to cost $86 million, including escalating health insurance costs, transportation expenses, special education costs, and collective bargaining agreement increases.
    Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Gutierrez established a GoFundMe account to help offset the family’s expenses.
    Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Cruise lines are increasingly charging extra fees for amenities at their private destinations.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
  • After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to $47,312.
    Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In contrast to Luckin's typical offerings priced at roughly $1 or $2 for an Americano or latte, the flagship store has nudged prices slightly higher for a range of pour-over and cold brew coffee drinks.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Retail prices have helped fuel demand.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Shorter fetches often create multiple, less intense bands of snow, while longer fetches can produce severe single bands, sometimes with thundersnow, as seen in the longer geographical positioning of lakes like Erie and Ontario.
    Vytas Reid, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Fresh opium now fetches about $329 per kilogram, more than double the 2019 price of $145.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Commissioners are expected to take a deeper dive into the budget outlook and possible responses at a two-day budget retreat scheduled for late February, where staff will present a more detailed breakdown of revenues, expenditures and options for closing the gap.
    Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Investors are increasingly scrutinizing spending forecasts and focusing on how companies will be able to turn a profit to justify their expenditures.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • More Money-saving Tips Peak season in Japan brings peak crowds—and higher prices—which is why Szakin advises travelers to plan trips during the country’s shoulder or low seasons (late May to August and late November to December, or January to early March, respectively) whenever possible.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Japanese Primrose Late in the spring season, Japanese primrose (Primula japonica) brings vibrant color to partly shady, damp areas of your garden.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Costs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costs. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.

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