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)
Focus on the pronunciation of cost