cost
gb/kˈɔst/ us/kˈɔst/
A1
English
~ 1000
ár, költség, kerül, áldozat
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
the cost of [something]
The cost of the new phone is too high for me.
Az új telefon ára túl magas nekem.
They are trying to reduce the cost of production.
Próbálják csökkenteni a termelési költségeket.
The total cost came to $500.
Health care costs have risen sharply this year.
Learner examples
The cost of the book is five dollars.
A könyv ára öt dollár.
What is the cost of the ticket?
Mennyi a jegy ára?
The cost is too high for me.
We must pay the full cost.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cost' with 'price' — 'price' is what is charged, 'cost' can mean what you pay or what it takes to produce.
Meaning
Price of something
Collocations
high cost
|low cost
|cost of living
|production cost
|at no cost
Synonyms
price (The most common alternative; often interchangeable but 'price' is more about the set charge, while 'cost' can also imply expense to the seller.)
Antonyms
income (Opposite in the sense of money going out vs. money coming in.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|commerce
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The money you need to pay for something.
The amount of money that is required to purchase a good or service.
VERB
A1
2
kerül
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] costs [amount]
This meal will cost you $20.
Ez az étkezés 20 dollárba fog kerülni.
The repairs could cost more than the car is worth.
A javítások többe kerülhetnek, mint amennyit az autó ér.
It costs a lot to live in this city.
Learner examples
The shoes cost fifty dollars.
A cipő ötven dollárba kerül.
How much does this shirt cost?
Mennyibe kerül ez az ing?
It costs a lot to travel there.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'is cost' instead of 'costs' when speaking about prices.
Meaning
Require payment of money
Collocations
cost a fortune
|cost too much
|cost $10
|cost an arm and a leg
Synonyms
charge ('Charge' focuses on what the seller asks for, while 'cost' focuses on what is needed to pay.)
Antonyms
earn (Opposite in terms of money going out versus money coming in.)
Themes
daily life
|commerce
|finance
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To need a certain amount of money to buy or do something.
To require a specified amount of money to be paid in order to be obtained or done.
NOUN
B1
3
Usage pattern:
at the cost of [something]
He achieved success, but at the cost of his health.
Sikert ért el, de az egészsége árán.
They won the case at great personal cost.
Nagy személyes áldozatok árán nyerték meg a pert.
The project was completed at the cost of employee morale.
Learner examples
He got the job at the cost of his free time.
Megkapta az állást, de a szabadideje árán.
She passed the exam at the cost of her health.
Az egészsége árán ment át a vizsgán.
We finished early at the cost of quality.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with financial meaning; here it refers to non-money sacrifices.
Meaning
Something sacrificed for gain
Collocations
at great cost
|personal cost
|emotional cost
Synonyms
sacrifice ('Sacrifice' emphasizes the deliberate giving up of something valuable, while 'cost' can be more general.)
Antonyms
benefit (Benefit is the positive outcome, opposite to the loss implied by 'cost'.)
Themes
life choices
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something you lose or give up to get something else.
Something valuable that is lost, given up, or suffered in order to achieve something else.
VERB
B1
4
kerül
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] costs [someone] [something valuable]
His mistake cost him his job.
A hibája az állásába került.
The accident nearly cost her her life.
A baleset majdnem az életébe került.
That comment may cost you your friendship with him.
Learner examples
The lie cost him his best friend.
A hazugsága miatt elveszítette a legjobb barátját.
Her mistake cost her the race.
A hibája miatt elvesztette a versenyt.
The war cost many lives.
Meaning
Cause loss or harm
Collocations
cost dearly
|cost someone their life
|cost someone their job
Synonyms
deprive ('Deprive' means to take away directly; 'cost' implies as a result of an action or event.)
Antonyms
reward ('Reward' gives something valuable instead of taking it away.)
Themes
life choices
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone lose something important (not money).
To cause someone to lose something valuable, such as time, health, opportunities, or reputation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cost
IPA
GB/kˈɔst/
US/kˈɔst/
Syllables & stress
cost (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cost)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cost
- Plural: cost, costs
Verb
- Base: cost
- 3rd Person Singular: costs
- Present Participle: costing
- Past: cost, costed
- Past Participle: cost
Word family
Forms
costs
noun
costing
verb
costed
verb
Related words
costly
adjective B1
Highlights
- Irregular past participle: cost Verb
Expressions
at all costs
1/ˈæt ˈɔl kˈɔsts/
idiom
Do regardless of obstacles
Do something no matter how hard or dangerous it is.
Examples
- We must protect the children at all costs.
- Avoid injury at all costs during training.
at the cost of
1/ˈæt ðə kˈɔst əv/
fixed phrase
In exchange for losing something valuable
When you get something but lose something else important for it.
Examples
- He finished the project at the cost of his health.
- They won at the cost of their friendship.
hidden costs
1/hˈɪdən kˈɔsts/
fixed phrase
Extra expenses not obvious at first
Extra money you must pay that you did not know about before.
Examples
- Be aware of hidden costs when signing the contract.
- There are hidden costs in maintaining an old house.
true cost
1/tɹˈu kˈɔst/
fixed phrase
Actual total expense including indirect effects or losses
The real amount something costs, including extra or hidden parts.
Examples
- The true cost of cheap clothing includes environmental damage.
- We need to calculate the true cost before deciding.
cost an arm and a leg
1/kˈɔst ən ˈɑɹm ˈænd ə lˈɛɡ/
idiom
informal
Be very expensive
Be very expensive; cost a lot of money.
Examples
- That car cost me an arm and a leg.
- That designer bag costs an arm and a leg.
- The repairs will cost an arm and a leg.
- The trip will cost an arm and a leg if we fly first class.
cost an arm and a leg
2/kˈɔst ən ˈɑɹm ˈænd ə lˈɛɡ/
idiom
informal
Be very expensive
To be very expensive to buy or get.
Examples
- That designer bag cost an arm and a leg.
- Going to college can cost an arm and a leg.