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
Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
With travel and lodging costs, artists often pony up as much as $3,000 for a two-day window to show their works and make enough money to last until the next market.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
According to the report, Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people in the U.S. will cost an average of $58.08, down 5% from last year.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cost 
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Noun
The Bee Cave City Council entered into an interlocal cooperation agreement with Lake Travis Fire Rescue on Tuesday night on dividing costs at the upcoming public safety building in the city.
—Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
With travel and lodging costs, artists often pony up as much as $3,000 for a two-day window to show their works and make enough money to last until the next market.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
According to Mason's records, the project is expected to cost about $4.5 million, The Enquirer reported on Aug. 1.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
According to the report, Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people in the U.S. will cost an average of $58.08, down 5% from last year.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 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 1 Dec. 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
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