Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

cost

verb [T] (DESTROY)
 
 
/kɒst/ US  /kɑːst/ (cost, cost)

Definition

B2 to cause someone to lose or destroy something valuable: Drinking and driving costs lives (= can cause accidents in which people die). [+ two objects] His affairs cost him his marriage (= his marriage ended because of them).Damaging and spoilingDestroying and demolishing
(Definition of cost verb (DESTROY) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

throw caution to the wind/winds

to do something without worrying about the risk or negative results

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More