cost
word
/ˈkɑst/
kawst
/kˈɒst/
kost
Definition
As a noun, 'cost' is the amount of money needed to buy, make, or do something. As a verb, it means to have a price or to cause someone to lose something.
Usage & Nuances
Very common in both everyday and business English. As a noun, common patterns are 'the cost of living', 'at no cost', and 'cut costs'. As a verb, say 'It costs $20' and note that the past form is also 'cost': 'It cost too much'. It can also be used figuratively: 'The mistake cost him his job'.
Spanish: costo - costarPortuguese (BR): custo - custarPortuguese (PT): custo - custarChinese (Simplified): 成本 - 价格 - 花费Chinese (Traditional): 成本 - 價格 - 花費Hindi: लागत - कीमत - खर्च होनाArabic: تكلفة - ثمن - يكلّفBengali: মূল্য - খরচRussian: стоимость - цена - стоитьJapanese: コスト - 費用 - 値段 - かかるVietnamese: chi phí - giá - tốnKorean: 비용 - 값 - 비용이 들다Turkish: maliyet - tutar - mal olmakUrdu: قیمت - لاگتIndonesian: biaya - harga - memerlukan biaya
Example Sentences
This bag costs thirty dollars.
basic
The cost of the meal was high.
basic
The mistake cost him a lot of time.
basic
We need to cut costs if sales keep dropping.
natural
It didn't cost much, so I just bought it.
natural
That decision could cost us a big client.
natural