be costly
/biː ˈkɒstli/verb phrase★Intermediate
💰Finance
formal
To require a significant amount of money; to be expensive.
Renovating the old house will be costly, but it's worth the investment.
Upgrading the company's IT infrastructure will be costly, but it's necessary for long-term growth.
💡
Often used to emphasize the financial burden of a project or decision.
Collocations
be costly toTo require a significant expense for a specific action or item.be costly in the long runTo have significant financial consequences over time.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
cost an arm and a legidiom
To be extremely expensive
break the bankidiom
To be too expensive to afford
💡Pro Tip
Financial Context
Use 'be costly' when discussing significant expenses in business or economic contexts.
⚡Gold Rule
Precision
Avoid using 'be costly' for minor expenses; reserve it for significant financial burdens.
📖Word Origin
Derived from the Old English 'costlic,' meaning 'expensive,' with 'be' as a linking verb.
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used in financial, business, and economic contexts to describe high expenses.
Word Breakdown
be
Linking verb indicating state or condition
rootcostly
Expensive or requiring a lot of money
adjectiveEnglish Dictionary