cost 1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯst How to pronounce cost (audio)
Definition of costnext
1
as in expense
a payment made in the course of achieving a result the newlyweds spared no cost in building the kitchen of their dreams

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Relevance
2
as in price
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something we can't afford the cost of a house just yet, so we're renting an apartment

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

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cost

2 of 2

verb

as in to fetch
to have a price of the raffle tickets cost a dollar each

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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 cost
Noun
The technology, costs, competitors, regulations, and use cases were changing too quickly. — Jeff Degraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Eight in 10 Americans believe attacking Iran increased the cost of gas and groceries, and a majority disapprove of the war in Iran according to a new UMass Amherst Poll. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
And some analysts predict that Apple's folding phone expected this fall could cost as much as $2,500. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 Halting just one assembly line can cost the company between $300 and $500 per minute, Good says. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cost
  1. expense
  2. price
  3. fetch
  4. expenditure
  5. fee
  6. bring
Noun
  • Others argued the city cannot afford massive new spending on police, its greatest expense, and must make the department more efficient.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Family Dollar employee suffered damages, including losses in compensation and benefits, medical expenses, and anxiety and emotional distress, according to the EEOC.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of expense
Noun
  • Larger coupon payments now provide a cushion against further price declines, unlike the low-yield environment earlier this decade.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Shoemaker DeMio says that cost burden comes as many families are already grappling with high living costs and steep gas prices.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of price
Verb
  • Launching swarms of small, light interceptors to defend the United States from incoming nuclear missiles may no longer be so far-fetched.
    — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Christie’s estimates the large, rare tempera and gouache painting of a festive, folkloric Russian scene, which Kandinsky made in Paris, will fetch over $30 million.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of fetch
Noun
  • In the eyes of rival executives, Moreno opted for the flashy purchase over steady, incremental expenditures.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • To curb massive server expenditures, engineering teams across the board are implementing strict token minimization algorithms.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of expenditure
Noun
  • According to materials provided to CNBC, Google has also directly targeted Microsoft and Anthropic, claiming their recurring seat fees and separate product licenses make their offerings more expensive and less flexible.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The final fee of £125million was agreed upon just before 5pm on Tuesday.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fee
Verb
  • Together, the workforce brings more than 250 combined years of Minuteman III experience at each base, according to the Air Force.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Venice Film Festival has also given us plenty of major beauty moments—and Mary Beth Barone really brought it for her first turn on the lido.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of bring

Browse Nearby Words

cossets
cost
costar
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Cite this Entry

“Cost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cost. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cost

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cost

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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