Collocations for cost - noun
1. money needed to buy sth
ADJECTIVE
considerable,
high
The high cost of energy was a problem for consumers.
The high cost of energy was a problem for consumers.
enormous,
exorbitant,
huge,
prohibitive
The cost of repairs would be prohibitive.
The cost of repairs would be prohibitive.
low,
minimal
escalating, increasing, rising, soaring, spiralling/spiraling
basic
full, overall, total
You will have to bear the full cost of the work.
escalating, increasing, rising, soaring, spiralling/spiraling
basic
full, overall, total
You will have to bear the full cost of the work.
added,
additional,
extra
She was unwilling to pay the extra cost to get a room to herself.
She was unwilling to pay the extra cost to get a room to herself.
associated
hidden
average
A total of 3.6 million tickets at an average cost of $58 are available.
hidden
average
A total of 3.6 million tickets at an average cost of $58 are available.
gross,
net
budgeted, estimated, projected
likely, potential
real, true
annual, monthly, etc.
replacement
What is the current replacement cost of these assets?
budgeted, estimated, projected
likely, potential
real, true
annual, monthly, etc.
replacement
What is the current replacement cost of these assets?
marginal
(business)
Competition will drive the price down near to the marginal cost (= the cost of the work and materials to produce the product).
Competition will drive the price down near to the marginal cost (= the cost of the work and materials to produce the product).
per-unit,
unit
(= the cost of producing one item)
initial, upfront
capital, start-up (both business)
The capital cost of these projects (= what it costs to set them up) is some $100 million.
initial, upfront
capital, start-up (both business)
The capital cost of these projects (= what it costs to set them up) is some $100 million.
direct,
indirect
VERB + cost
carry (AmE),
have
The entire project carries a cost of $2 million.
The entire project carries a cost of $2 million.
bear,
cover,
meet,
pay
Contractors can now be required to carry the cost of delays.
Allow €100 per day to cover the cost of meals.
Delegates receive allowances to meet the cost of travel.
Contractors can now be required to carry the cost of delays.
Allow €100 per day to cover the cost of meals.
Delegates receive allowances to meet the cost of travel.
drive up,
increase,
push up
Inflation is pushing up the cost of living.
Inflation is pushing up the cost of living.
bring down,
cut,
decrease,
drive down,
lower,
reduce,
slash
keep down
estimate, put
I would put the cost of a new employee at $80 000 a year.
keep down
estimate, put
I would put the cost of a new employee at $80 000 a year.
calculate,
work out
afford
spread
You can spread the cost of your loan repayment over 10 years.
afford
spread
You can spread the cost of your loan repayment over 10 years.
reimburse
offset
share, subsidize
offset
share, subsidize
cost + VERB
escalate,
go up,
increase,
rise,
soar
The cost of dental treatment is increasing.
The cost of dental treatment is increasing.
fall,
go down
cost + NOUN
reduction,
savings
the pursuit of cost reduction
the pursuit of cost reduction
increase
containment (AmE), control
overrun
There were cost overruns on each project.
containment (AmE), control
overrun
There were cost overruns on each project.
estimate
advantage
structure
base
It is essential that we operate with the lowest possible cost base and most efficient facilities.
advantage
structure
base
It is essential that we operate with the lowest possible cost base and most efficient facilities.
accounting
PREPOSITION
at a cost of
A new computer system has been installed at a cost of £80 000.
A new computer system has been installed at a cost of £80 000.
cost to
The cost to the government will be quite high.
The cost to the government will be quite high.
PHRASES
an increase in cost,
a reduction in cost
at great cost, at a great cost to sth
The victory was achieved at great cost to the country's infrastrucure.
at great cost, at a great cost to sth
The victory was achieved at great cost to the country's infrastrucure.
at minimal cost,
at a minimal cost to sth
Now people can access the Internet at minimal cost.
Now people can access the Internet at minimal cost.
at no extra cost
The hotel offers tea and coffee at no extra cost.
The hotel offers tea and coffee at no extra cost.
the cost of living
The cost of living has risen sharply in the last year.
The cost of living has risen sharply in the last year.
cost per day, unit, child, etc.
the cost per day for an electrician
the cost per day for an electrician
2. (costs) money needed to run a business, home, etc.
ADJECTIVE
considerable,
enormous,
great,
high,
huge
low
escalating, increasing, rising, soaring, spiralling/spiraling
We have had to raise our prices because of rising costs.
low
escalating, increasing, rising, soaring, spiralling/spiraling
We have had to raise our prices because of rising costs.
administration,
administrative,
borrowing,
construction,
development,
fuel,
labour/labor,
maintenance,
manufacturing,
production,
research
research and development costs
research and development costs
operating,
running
shipping, transport (esp. BrE), transportation (esp. AmE), travel
health-care, medical
fixed, variable (business)
Fixed costs include rent.
shipping, transport (esp. BrE), transportation (esp. AmE), travel
health-care, medical
fixed, variable (business)
Fixed costs include rent.
out-of-pocket
overhead
overhead
VERB + COSTS
incur
The corporation will pay all costs and expenses incurred.
The corporation will pay all costs and expenses incurred.
pay
increase
bring down, cut, lower, reduce
The company has to find ways of cutting costs.
increase
bring down, cut, lower, reduce
The company has to find ways of cutting costs.
control,
keep down,
minimize
The use of cheap materials helped to keep costs down.
The use of cheap materials helped to keep costs down.
cover
We're hoping that we'll at least cover costs at the conference.
We're hoping that we'll at least cover costs at the conference.
recoup,
recover
defray
defray
COSTS + VERB
be associated,
be involved
the costs associated with buying and selling property
the costs associated with buying and selling property
escalate,
go up,
increase,
rise,
soar
The company's costs have risen over the last 5 years.
The company's costs have risen over the last 5 years.
3. effort/loss/damage to achieve sth
ADJECTIVE
considerable,
enormous,
great,
heavy,
huge
They advanced a few hundred yards, but at a heavy cost in life.
They advanced a few hundred yards, but at a heavy cost in life.
dreadful,
terrible
the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering
the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering
real,
true
environmental, financial, human, personal, political, social
the environmental cost of nuclear power
environmental, financial, human, personal, political, social
the environmental cost of nuclear power
VERB + cost
outweigh
Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
suffer
(esp. AmE)
The country has suffered the enormous cost of trade sanctions.
The country has suffered the enormous cost of trade sanctions.
count
The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.
The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.
PREPOSITION
at cost (to),
at a cost (to)
He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health.
The raid was foiled, but at a cost: an injured officer who was lucky to survive.
He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health.
The raid was foiled, but at a cost: an injured officer who was lucky to survive.
at the cost of
She saved him from the fire but at the cost of her own life.
She saved him from the fire but at the cost of her own life.
cost in
I felt a need to please people, whatever the cost in time and energy.
I felt a need to please people, whatever the cost in time and energy.
PHRASES
costs and benefits
the costs and benefits of this strategy
the costs and benefits of this strategy
at all costs,
at any cost
You must stop the press finding out at all costs.
You must stop the press finding out at all costs.
to your cost
He's a ruthless businessman, as I know to my cost (= I know from my own bad experience).
He's a ruthless businessman, as I know to my cost (= I know from my own bad experience).
4. (costs) in a court case
VERB + COSTS
incur
Both sides incurred costs of over $50 000.
Both sides incurred costs of over $50 000.
pay
He was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs.
He was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs.
be awarded
If you win your case you will normally be awarded costs.
If you win your case you will normally be awarded costs.