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costs
/kɒsts/
the amount of money needed to pay for something
The costs of living in the city are very high.
This sentence explains that it is expensive to live in the city.
general
the amount of money needed to pay for something
The costs of the project exceeded the budget.
The expenses for the project were more than planned.
Can refer to both one-time expenses or ongoing expenses.
Finance
Finance
the price or expense of something
The company is trying to reduce its operating costs.
The business is attempting to lower its daily expenses.
In finance, often refers to expenses related to running a business.
general
the amount of effort or sacrifice required to achieve something
The costs of success are often high.
Achieving success often requires a lot of effort or sacrifice.
Can refer to non-monetary expenses, such as time or effort.
Collocations
cost of livingthe amount of money needed to cover basic expenses in a placecost-effectiveproviding good value for the money spentcost-benefit analysisa process of comparing the costs and benefits of a decision
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Singular vs. Plural
Use 'cost' for a single expense and 'costs' for multiple expenses or a general idea of expenses.
Gold Rule
Financial Context
In financial contexts, 'costs' often refers to expenses related to running a business or project.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'cost', from Old French 'coste', from Latin 'costa' meaning 'side' or 'rib', later used to mean 'expense'.
Usage Notes
Can be used as a singular or plural noun. The plural form 'costs' is often used to refer to multiple expenses or a general idea of expenses.
Word Breakdown
cost
the amount of money needed to pay for something
root-s
plural form, indicating multiple instances or a general idea
suffixEnglish Dictionary