- 1[countable, uncountable] the amount of money that you need in order to buy, make, or do something the high/low cost of housing A new computer system has been installed at a cost of $150,000. The plan had to be abandoned on grounds of cost. We did not even make enough money to cover the cost of the food. Consumers will have to bear the full cost of these pay increases. The total cost to you (= the amount you have to pay) is $3,000. Thesaurusprice
- cost
- value
- expense
- worth
- price the amount of money that you have to pay for an item or a service:house prices These shoes don't have a price on them. I can't afford it at that price.
- cost the amount of money that you need in order to buy, make, or do something:A new computer system has been installed at a cost of $180,000.
- value how much something is worth in money or other goods for which it can be exchanged:Sports cars tend to hold their value well. Value can also mean how much something is worth compared with its price:This restaurant is an excellent value (= is worth the money it costs).
- The price is what someone asks you to pay for an item or service:to ask/charge a high price to ask/charge a high cost/value. Obtaining or achieving something may have a cost; the value of something is how much other people would be willing to pay for it:house prices the cost of changing jobs The house now has a market value of one million dollars.
- expense the money that you spend on something; something that makes you spend money:The garden was expanded at great expense. Owning a car is a major expense.
- worth the financial value of someone or something:He has a personal net worth of $10 million. Worth is more often used to mean the practical or moral value of something.
- the high price/cost/value
- the real/true price/cost/value/worth
- to put/set a price/value >on>something
- to increase/reduce the price/cost/value/expense
- to raise/double/lower the price/cost/value
- to cut the price/cost
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- 2costs [plural] the total amount of money that needs to be spent by a business The use of cheap labor helped to keep costs down. to cut/reduce costs running/operating/labor costs We have had to raise our prices because of rising costs. Opinion was divided on the potential costs and benefits of the plan. Topic CollocationsBusinessrunning a business
- buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise
- set up/establish/start/start up/launch a business/company
- run/operate a business/company/franchise
- head/run a firm/department/team
- make/secure/win/lose/block a deal
- expand/grow/build the business
- boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade
- increase/expand production/output/sales
- boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability
- achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability
- cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices
- announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacks
- break into/enter/capture/dominate a market
- capture/gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share
- identify/find/build/create a market for something
- start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign
- develop/launch/promote a product/Web site
- estimate/assess/create/generate demand for your product
- attract/get/retain/keep/help customers/clients
- drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales
- beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform/ (informal) stymie the competition
- meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets
- draw up/set/present/propose/agree on/approve a budget
- keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget
- be/come in below/under/over/within budget
- generate income/revenue/profit(s)/funds/business
- fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit
- provide/raise/allocate capital/funds
- attract/encourage investment/investors
- recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment/an outlay
- get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan
- apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide financing
- lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue
- accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts
- suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses
- face cuts/a deficit/bankruptcy/a shortfall
- declare/file for/enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy
- liquidate a company/a business/assets
- survive/weather a recession/downturn
- propose/seek/block/oppose a merger
- launch/make/accept/contest/defeat a takeover bid
- 3[uncountable, singular] the effort, loss, or damage that is involved in order to do or achieve something the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering the environmental cost of nuclear power She saved him from the fire but at the cost of her own life (= she died). He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health. I felt a need to please people, whatever the cost in time and energy.
- 4costs (also court costs) [plural] the sum of money that someone is ordered to pay for lawyers, etc. in a legal case He was ordered to pay $2,000 costs. Thesauruscosts
- spending
- expenditure
- expenses
- overhead (costs)
- outlay
- costs the total amount of money that needs to be spent by a business:labor/production costs rising costs
- spending the amount of money that is spent, especially by a government or an organization:public spending The governor promised more spending on public health programs.
- expenditure (somewhat formal) an amount of money spent by a government, an organization, or a person:expenditure on education
- expenses money that has to be spent by a person or an organization; money that you spend while you are working, that your employer will pay back to you later:legal expenses travel expenses
- overhead (costs) the regular costs of running a business or organization, such as rent, electricity, and wages:High overhead means small profit margins.
- outlay the money that you have to spend in order to start a new business or project, or in order to save yourself money or time later:The best equipment is costly but is well worth the outlay.
- spending/expenditure/outlay on something
- high/low costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/overhead (costs)
- total costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/overhead (costs)/outlay
- capital costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/outlay
- household costs/spending/expenditure/expenses
- government/public/education/health costs/spending/expenditure
- to increase/reduce/bring down costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/overhead (costs)/the outlay
whatever is needed to achieve something You must stop the media from finding out at all costs.
under any circumstances He is determined to win at any cost.
for only the amount of money that is needed to make or get something, without any profit being added on goods sold at cost
to feel the bad effects of a mistake, an accident, etc. The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.
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