Noun / Verb A2 — Elementary /kɒst/

Cost — Definition, Examples & Usage

The price of something — and what you give up to get it.

Quick Definition

Cost (noun) — the amount of money required to buy, produce, or do something: "The cost of living has risen sharply."

Cost (verb) — to require a specified amount of money; or to cause the loss of something valuable: "How much does this coat cost?" / "That mistake cost him his job."

What Does Cost Mean?

Cost entered English in the 13th century from Old French couster and Latin constare, meaning "to stand at a price" or "to be established at a value". The Latin roots are con- (together, completely) and stare (to stand), conveying the idea of something fixed or settled.

As one of the most frequent words in English, cost appears in everyday shopping language ("How much does this cost?"), business writing ("reduce operating costs"), journalism ("the human cost of the conflict"), and formal contexts ("at no additional cost to the client"). Its versatility as both a noun and a verb makes it essential vocabulary even at A2 level.

Note that as a verb, cost is irregular in the financial sense: past tense and past participle are both cost (not "costed"). However, when cost means to estimate or calculate the expense of a project, the regular past form costed is used in professional and accounting contexts: "The renovation was costed at £40,000."

Example Sentences (A2–C1)

SentenceLevel & Usage note
How much does the ticket cost?A2 — basic verb question form
The cost of renting a flat in London is very high.B1 — noun + gerund phrase as subject
We need to cut costs if we want the business to survive.B1 — idiom: cut costs
Failing to act early cost the company millions in fines.B2 — figurative verb: caused the loss of
A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis was conducted before the merger was approved.C1 — formal / business register

Common Collocations

CollocationExample
high / low costThe high cost of childcare is a concern for many families.
total costThe total cost of the project came to £2 million.
running costsElectric cars have lower running costs than petrol cars.
cost of livingThe cost of living in the capital is much higher than in rural areas.
at no extra costDelivery is included at no extra cost.
cost-effectiveSolar panels are a cost-effective solution for reducing energy bills.
cover the costInsurance will cover the cost of the repairs.
count the costThe town is still counting the cost of last winter's flooding.

Usage Notes: Formal vs Informal

In informal spoken English, people often use cost and price interchangeably: "What's the cost?" / "What's the price?" However, in more precise or formal usage there is a distinction: the price is what is asked for (on a label or invoice), while the cost is what is actually paid, or the total expenditure involved in producing something.

In formal and business writing, cost often collocates with abstract nouns to indicate non-financial sacrifice: the human cost, the environmental cost, the social cost. This figurative use (meaning a negative consequence or loss) is common in journalism and academic writing from B2 level upwards.

The phrase at all costs is an idiomatic expression meaning "whatever is necessary": "We must avoid redundancies at all costs." It is common in both formal writing and emphatic speech.

Related Words

costly cost-effective overheads pay price value amount increase

Synonyms

price charge expense expenditure outlay fee rate

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

The ticket costed £15. (incorrect irregular past tense)

The ticket cost £15. (cost is unchanged in the past tense for prices)

What is the cost of this? (overly formal for simple shopping; sounds awkward)

How much does this cost? (natural everyday phrasing)

We should reduce our costs of production. (unnecessary "of")

We should reduce our production costs. (compound noun, no preposition needed)

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Frequently Asked Questions about “cost”

What does cost mean in English?
Cost has two core meanings. As a noun, it is the amount of money you pay for something: 'The cost of the ticket was £20.' As a verb, it means to have a price of a particular amount: 'The ticket costs £20.' Both forms are extremely common in everyday English.
What is the past tense of cost?
The past tense and past participle of the verb cost is cost — it does not change: 'It cost £50 yesterday.' This is an irregular verb. However, in the sense of 'to calculate the cost of a project', the regular form costed is used: 'The project was carefully costed before approval.'
What is the difference between cost, price, and charge?
Price is the amount shown on a label or menu — what the seller asks for. Cost is what you actually pay, or the total expense involved in producing something. Charge is the amount billed to you by a service provider. A product's price may differ from its cost to the manufacturer, and a service provider may charge a fee on top of the basic price.
Is cost countable or uncountable?
Cost can be both. It is uncountable when used in general terms: 'at little cost', 'a reduction in cost'. It is countable when referring to specific expenses: 'the costs of running a car', 'hidden costs'. The plural costs is also used in formal or legal contexts to mean court expenses awarded by a judge.
What does 'at all costs' mean?
'At all costs' is an idiom meaning whatever is necessary, regardless of the effort, money, or sacrifice involved: 'We must avoid a delay at all costs.' It is used to emphasise that something is extremely important and must be achieved no matter what.
What are common collocations with cost?
Common collocations include: high/low cost, total cost, running costs, cost of living, at no extra cost, cost-effective, cost-cutting, cover the cost, bear the cost, and count the cost. In business English, 'cost-benefit analysis' and 'cost overrun' are frequently used.
What is the difference between cost and expense?
Both refer to money spent, but expense is often used in a more formal or business context, especially for money spent on behalf of an employer: 'I submitted my travel expenses.' Cost is broader and more everyday. In accounting, costs are categorised as direct or indirect, while expenses are costs that reduce taxable income.
Can cost be used as an adjective?
Cost itself is not used as an adjective, but it forms part of compound adjectives: cost-effective (providing good value for money), cost-efficient, and low-cost. These are hyphenated when they come before a noun: 'a cost-effective solution', but not when they follow the noun: 'the solution is cost effective'.
What is the origin of the word cost?
Cost comes from Old French 'couster' and Latin 'constare', meaning 'to stand at a price' or 'to be established'. The Latin roots con- (together) and stare (to stand) suggest something that stands as a fixed amount. The word entered English in the 13th century and has been used in both noun and verb senses ever since.
How can I practise using cost in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise cost in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to memorise cost alongside related vocabulary such as price, charge, expense, and value. Reading business news articles is a particularly effective way to encounter cost in authentic, varied contexts.