cost

If something does this, you must pay a particular amount of money to buy or use it.

• This bag costs twenty euros.
• How much did your ticket cost?
• The repairs will cost us a lot.

How to use it: cost someone an amount (The repairs cost me two hundred pounds.)

Common phrases: cost ten dollars, cost a fortune, cost too much, cost five pounds

To make someone lose something valuable or suffer an unwanted result.

• His careless comment cost him a friend.
• The delay cost us the contract.
• Could one mistake cost her the race?

How to use it: cost someone something (That mistake cost him his job.)

Common phrases: cost someone something, cost a life, cost someone everything

To calculate how much money a project, service, or activity will require.

• Please cost the repairs.
• The builder costed the work yesterday.
• Have you costed the whole project yet?

How to use it: cost something at an amount (They costed the repairs at three thousand pounds.); cost something out (We must cost the project out before approving it.)

Similar words: price, estimate

Common phrases: cost a project, cost the work, cost something out

The amount of money you pay to buy or use something.

• What is the cost of delivery?
• The total cost was fifty pounds.
• We compared the costs of several hotels.

How to use it: the cost of something (The cost of the ticket includes lunch.)

Similar words: price, charge

Common phrases: cost of something, total cost, extra cost

The money, time, or other resources needed or used to do something.

• The cost of running the factory is rising.
• This method saves both time and labor costs.
• We underestimated the cost of developing the software.

How to use it: the cost of doing something (We calculated the cost of building a new school.)

Similar words: expense, expenditure

Common phrases: production cost, cost of something, at no cost

The harm or loss caused by doing or achieving something.

• The victory came at a terrible cost.
• We must consider the human cost of war.
• He gained power at the cost of his friendships.

How to use it: at the cost of something (She achieved success at the cost of her health.); at a cost to someone/something (The road was built at a cost to local wildlife.)

Similar words: price, sacrifice

Common phrases: at a cost, at the cost, human cost