cost
cost
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "cost" is /kɒst/.
First and only syllable: /kɒst/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: cost
Plural Noun: costs
Verb (base form): cost
Verb (third-person singular present): costs
Verb (past simple): cost
Verb (past participle): cost
Verb (present participle): costing
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The amount of money, effort, or other resources required to acquire or achieve something. This can refer to the monetary price of an item or the broader implications (time, energy, sacrifice) involved in a decision or action.
Synonyms: price, expense, charge, outlay, expenditure, toll
Antonyms: benefit, profit, gain, saving
Definition: A disadvantage or loss incurred as a result of an action or decision. This emphasizes the negative consequence rather than the initial outlay.
Synonyms: sacrifice, detriment, penalty, drawback, disadvantage
Antonyms: advantage, benefit, boon, reward
Verb
Definition: To require a specified amount of money, effort, or other resources for purchase, accomplishment, or maintenance.
Synonyms: be priced at, amount to, set back (informal), require
Antonyms: yield (as in "yield a profit"), gain (as in "gain something for free")
Definition: To result in a loss, penalty, or detriment to someone or something.
Synonyms: cause, lead to, entail, result in, sacrifice
Antonyms: benefit, advantage, profit, gain
Examples of Use
Books:
"The true cost of war is never fully accounted for in financial terms, but in human lives and suffering." (from a historical non-fiction book)
"Every decision has a cost, whether it's the time spent, the opportunity lost, or the emotional toll it takes." (from a self-help book)
Newspapers:
"New government regulations are expected to increase the cost of living for many citizens." (The New York Times)
"The rising cost of raw materials is forcing manufacturers to rethink their pricing strategies." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"What's the real cost of your daily coffee habit? A deep dive into hidden expenses." (from a personal finance blog)
"Companies are grappling with the environmental cost of their supply chains." (from Harvard Business Review online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The hero understands the heavy cost of his choices as he faces the consequences of his actions." (line from a dramatic film, often heard in reviews or plot summaries)
Television Series: "This ancient artifact comes with a high cost to anyone who possesses it." (dialogue from a fantasy TV series)
Video Games: "Beware, adventurer, victory often comes at a steep cost." (text displayed in a role-playing video game)
Music: "Freedom comes at a cost, paid in blood and tears." (lyrics from a protest song)
General Public Discourse:
"The cost of higher education is becoming prohibitive for many families." (common concern expressed in debates about social policy)
"We need to weigh the cost and benefits before making such a drastic change." (phrase used in everyday decision-making discussions)
"What's the cost of replacing that old appliance with a new, energy-efficient one?" (question asked when considering household purchases)
"There's a significant human cost to this ongoing conflict." (statement made in discussions about geopolitical events)
10 Quotes Using Cost
"The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one way or another, America will always pay it." (John F. Kennedy)
"The true cost of war is not measured in money, but in human lives." (Attributed to various sources, often in historical contexts)
"Education is expensive, but ignorance is more so, and cost us more." (Attributed to various sources, including Benjamin Franklin in some interpretations)
"The ultimate cost of a lie is not that others don't believe it, but that you start to believe it yourself." (Unknown)
"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival." (C.S. Lewis, though often paraphrased to include the idea of its lack of cost)
"The true cost of an item is not the money you pay for it, but what you have to give up in order to get it." (Attributed to various sources, including early economists)
"Power has its cost." (Attributed to various fictional and historical figures)
"What is the cost of a lie? It's not that we'll mistake them for the truth. The real danger is that if we hear enough lies, then we no longer recognize the truth at all." (Valery Legasov, Chernobyl)
"The cost of greatness is responsibility." (Winston Churchill)
"The cost of progress is sometimes the loss of what we value most." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "cost" has a deep history, tracing its roots back to ancient Latin.
It comes from the Latin word "constare," which literally meant "to stand at" or "to stand together." Imagine something "standing at" a certain price or value. This idea of something being "fixed" or "settled" at a particular value is where the meaning of "cost" began.
From Latin, it moved into Old French as "cost" (or "coster" for the verb), which by the 12th century, already carried the meaning of "price, outlay, or expenditure." It also had a sense of "hardship or trouble," hinting at the negative consequences that can come with a cost.
When the word "cost" entered English, around the 13th century (specifically around 1200-1250), it held that primary meaning of "price or value." So, the first known use of the word "cost" in English meant essentially what it means today in terms of money or resources required for something. Over time, it broadened to include the idea of sacrifice, loss, or effort involved, but the core idea of an "outlay" or "what something is worth" has remained constant.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cost
At all costs: No matter what the difficulty or expense.
Count the cost: To consider the full negative consequences of an action.
Cut costs: To reduce expenses.
To one's cost: With damaging or unwelcome results for oneself.
What's the cost?: A general inquiry about the price or consequences of something.
The cost of doing business: An unavoidable expense or difficulty associated with a particular activity.
No matter the cost: Similar to "at all costs," emphasizing determination regardless of expense or sacrifice.
The hidden cost: An expense or consequence that is not immediately obvious.
A cost-benefit analysis: An assessment of the advantages versus disadvantages of a decision.
Cost an arm and a leg: To be very expensive. (Uses a synonym for "cost" to describe high expense)
Run up a cost: To accumulate a large expense.
The cost of living: The average amount of money needed to sustain a certain standard of life.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cost from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
