Costly Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Published on May 21, 2025
Costly referring to something that has a high price or requires a significant expenditure of resources. e.g., The renovation turned out to be more costly than expected.
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Costly Definitions
Involving considerable loss or damage.
The mistake was costly, resulting in a loss of thousands of dollars.
Having a high price or great expense.
Buying a new car is a costly investment.
Having a high emotional or social cost.
The divorce was costly, affecting their entire family.
Leading to significant financial expenditure.
Her medical treatment has been extremely costly.
Requiring a high price for its value or quality.
The designer clothes are notably costly.
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Requiring a lot of money to purchase or maintain.
Owning a luxury yacht is known to be very costly.
Entailing a sacrifice of something valuable.
His decision to quit a stable job was a costly one.
Characterized by high expenditure of non-monetary resources like effort or time.
The research was costly in terms of the hours spent.
Of high price or value; expensive
Costly jewelry.
Entailing loss or sacrifice
A costly war.
Of high cost; expensive.
A costly activity
A costly error
Of great cost; expensive; dear.
He had fitted up his palace in the most costly and sumptuous style, for the accomodation of the princess.
Gorgeous; sumptuous.
To show how costly summer was at hand.
Entailing great loss or sacrifice;
A dearly-won victory
Having a high price;
Costly jewelry
High-priced merchandise
Much too dear for my pocketbook
A pricey restaurant
Expensive in terms of the resources needed.
The project was too costly in terms of time and manpower.
Entailing greater expense than anticipated.
The software upgrade turned out to be more costly than planned.
Costly Snonyms
High-priced
Having a price higher than average.
High-priced tickets often deter average fans from attending big games.
Pricey
Informal term for something that is high-priced.
That restaurant is too pricey for regular visits.
Valuable
Having a great value, especially in monetary terms.
The valuable painting was insured for millions.
Premium
Associated with high cost and high quality.
She always buys premium products for their superior quality.
Expensive
Having a high price or cost.
Expensive jewelry can be a significant investment.
Pricy
Another informal variation of pricey, indicating high cost.
Their wedding was particularly pricy due to the elaborate venue.
Exorbitant
Exceeding the bounds of custom, propriety, or reason, especially in amount or extent; highly excessive.
The exorbitant fees at the private college deter many potential students.
Lavish
Entailing great expense; luxurious and elaborate.
They threw a lavish party that must have cost a fortune.
Steep
Expensive, or requiring the spending of a lot of money.
The steep cost of healthcare is a major political issue.
Dear
A British expression indicating something costly.
Petrol has become very dear lately.
Costly Idioms & Phrases
Costly mistake
A mistake that results in a significant loss or damage.
Ignoring the warning signs was a costly mistake.
Costly affair
An event or situation that is very expensive.
The gala was a costly affair but raised a lot of money for charity.
Costly venture
A business or project that is expensive to initiate and maintain.
The startup turned out to be a costly venture that didn't survive its first year.
Costly investment
An investment that requires a large amount of money or resources.
Buying into the tech market now is a costly investment.
Pay a costly price
To suffer or incur a great loss or penalty.
They paid a costly price for their negligence.
Costly error
An error that incurs a great expense or loss.
The accountant’s costly error resulted in a significant financial discrepancy.
Costly endeavor
An endeavor that requires significant financial outlay.
Mountaineering can be a costly endeavor due to the equipment required.
At a costly rate
Something happening or being done at high expense.
The building materials were being used at a costly rate.
Costly consequences
Results or outcomes that are expensive or damaging.
The decision to delay the project had costly consequences.
Costly experiment
An experiment that requires considerable resources.
The scientific research was a costly experiment, funded by several grants.
Costly luxury
A luxury that is very expensive.
The yacht is a costly luxury that few can afford.
Costly habit
A habit that is expensive to maintain.
Smoking is a costly habit that affects both wallet and health.
Costly operation
An operation, especially medical or military, that is expensive.
The rescue operation was as heroic as it was costly.
Costly repair
Repair work that is expensive.
The car's transmission needed a costly repair.
Costly acquisition
Purchasing something at a high cost.
The company's latest acquisition was particularly costly.
Costly process
A process that involves significant expense.
Obtaining a patent is a lengthy and costly process.
Costly outcome
An outcome that results in a high expense or loss.
The legal battle had a costly outcome for both parties.
Costly delay
A delay that causes significant financial loss.
The construction project faced a costly delay due to unforeseen regulatory issues.
Costly compromise
A compromise that involves significant sacrifices or losses.
Agreeing to the terms was a costly compromise for the company.
Costly lesson
A lesson learned after experiencing a significant loss or failure.
The failed project taught them a costly lesson about market research.
Costly Example Sentences
It was a costly decision to study abroad, but she felt it was worth it.
The costly repairs to the roof almost emptied their savings.
They found that maintaining the old mansion was too costly.
The business venture was costly but promised high returns.
His lack of preparation for the exam proved costly.
The costly equipment was necessary for the advanced research lab.
Hosting the conference was a costly endeavor, but it greatly increased their visibility.
They learned a costly lesson in not securing their data properly.
Her commitment to only buying organic food was a costly choice.
The legal fees from the lawsuit were extremely costly.
The company's expansion into new markets was a costly strategy.
Buying the vintage car was a costly indulgence that he did not regret.
The holiday season can be especially costly for families.
The costly error in the construction plan delayed the project for months.
Upgrading the software for all the computers in the office was a costly move.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in costly?
There are two syllables in "costly."
How do we divide costly into syllables?
The word "costly" is divided into syllables as cost-ly.
How is costly used in a sentence?
Costly is used as an adjective to describe something that is high in price or has great expense.
What is the root word of costly?
The root word of "costly" is "cost."
Why is it called costly?
It's called "costly" because it derives from the word "cost," which means the amount required to gain or maintain something. "Costly" describes something that requires a high cost.
What is a stressed syllable in costly?
The stressed syllable in "costly" is the first syllable, cost-.
What is the pronunciation of costly?
Costly is pronounced as /ˈkɔːstli/.
Is costly an adverb?
No, costly is not an adverb.
Is the word costly imperative?
Costly cannot be imperative as it is an adjective.
What is the verb form of costly?
Costly does not have a verb form as it is an adjective.
What part of speech is costly?
Costly is an adjective.
What is another term for costly?
Another term for costly is "expensive."
Is costly a countable noun?
Costly is not a noun; it is an adjective and does not have countable properties.
Which vowel is used before costly?
Typically, the vowel "a" is used before "costly" when indefinite; e.g., "a costly mistake."
Is the word costly a Gerund?
Costly is not a gerund; it is an adjective.
Which preposition is used with costly?
Common prepositions used with "costly" include "of" (costly mistake) and "to" (costly to maintain).
Which article is used with costly?
The articles used with "costly" are "a" for singular and indefinite, and "the" for specific or previously mentioned costly items.
What is the singular form of costly?
Costly does not have a singular or plural form as it is an adjective; it remains "costly."
What is the opposite of costly?
The opposite of costly is "inexpensive" or "cheap."
Is costly a noun or adjective?
Costly is an adjective.
Is costly an abstract noun?
No, costly is not a noun; it is an adjective.
Is costly a negative or positive word?
Costly generally has a negative connotation as it implies a high expense.
Is the word “costly” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Costly cannot be a direct or indirect object as it is an adjective.
Which determiner is used with costly?
Common determiners used with "costly" include "a," "the," and "more."
What is the plural form of costly?
There is no plural form of the adjective "costly."
Is costly a vowel or consonant?
The word "costly" starts with a consonant.
Is costly a collective noun?
Costly is not a noun and therefore not a collective noun.
Is the costly term a metaphor?
Costly can be used metaphorically to describe something that is high in terms of non-monetary costs, like effort or time.
Which conjunction is used with costly?
Common conjunctions used with "costly" include "and," "but," and "or," depending on the sentence structure.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
