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
Recent Examples on the Web
Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 10 Nov. 2024
If a child’s family has financial constraints, Second Wind Fund covers the cost of 12 to 20 therapy sessions.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Lightweight, distraction-free writing apps tend to cost the least, at anywhere from $10 to $30 apiece.
—PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cost 
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.
Noun
The Import Price Index will highlight changes in the cost of goods imported into the U.S., while retail sales data will offer a look into consumer spending patterns, a key driver of economic growth.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 10 Nov. 2024
If a child’s family has financial constraints, Second Wind Fund covers the cost of 12 to 20 therapy sessions.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
Loading your audio article FORT COLLINS — After a violent outburst almost cost him everything, Avery Morrow was determined to get his life back on track.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Lightweight, distraction-free writing apps tend to cost the least, at anywhere from $10 to $30 apiece.
—PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for 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 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share