Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
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cost

noun · verb US /kɑːst/

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

How often you will meet it

Rank 1,443 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 12,701 times across 175,177 chapters — 0.006% of every word in the library.

What it means

noun

  1. the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
  2. the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold) also: monetary value, price the fluctuating monetary value of gold and silverhe puts a high price on his services
  3. value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to obtain something also: price, toll the cost in human life was enormousthe price of success is hard work

verb

  1. be priced at also: be These shoes cost $100
  2. require to lose, suffer, or sacrifice This mistake cost him his job

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

cost in real books

Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.

  • Be sincere, and remember that one single lie may cost your life.

    An Egyptian Princess — Volume 07 · Georg Ebers · Chapter 1

  • I purchased my domestic peace at the cost of your future in the world.

    Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1

  • That wee bit heap o’ leaves and stibble Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!

    Poems Every Child Should Know · Mary E. (Mary Elizabeth) [Editor] Burt · Chapter 1

  • But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.

    The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1

  • They asked the woman if the birds cost two cents, and she said, "No, my angels; they cost fifty cents."

    The Dutch Twins · Lucy Fitch Perkins · Chapter 1

Nearby in the frequency table

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