Trends of
costly

View usage for:

costly

(kɒstli, US kɔːst-)

Word forms: comparative costlier, superlative costliest

1. adjective

If you say that something is costly, you mean that it costs a lot of money, often more than you would want to pay.

Having professionally-made curtains can be costly, so why not make your own?

Synonyms: expensive, dear, stiff, excessive More Synonyms of costly

2. adjective

If you describe someone's action or mistake as costly, you mean that it results in a serious disadvantage for them, for example the loss of a large amount of money or the loss of their reputation.

Psychometric tests can save organizations from grim and costly mistakes.

This sort of scandal in international banking has been politically costly.

More Synonyms of costly

costly in British English

(ˈkɒstlɪ)

adjectiveWord forms: -lier or -liest

of great price or value; expensive

entailing great loss or sacrifice

a costly victory

splendid; lavish

Derived forms

costliness (ˈcostliness)

noun

costly in American English

(ˈkɔstli; ˈkɑstli)

adjectiveWord forms: ˈcostlier or ˈcostliest

costing much; expensive; dear

at the cost of great effort, damage, sacrifice, etc.

a costly victory

magnificent; sumptuous

3. Archaic

lavish; extravagant

SYNONYMY NOTE: costly refers to something that costs much and usually implies richness, magnificence, rareness,etc. [costly gems]: it is often applied to that which it would cost much in money or effort to corrector replace [a costly error]; expensive implies a price in excess of the article's worth or of the purchaser's ability topay [an expensive hat]; dear implies an exorbitant price or one considerably beyond the normal or fair price [meat is so dear these days]; valuable, in this connection, implies such great value as to bring a high price [a valuable collection]; invaluable suggests value so great that it cannot be appraised in monetary terms [invaluable aid]

OPPOSITE: cheap

Derived forms

costliness (ˈcostliness)

noun

Word origin

ME: see cost & -ly1

Examples of 'costly' in a sentence
costly

Going to court is costly and can often lead to increased bitterness.You pay interest on only the cash you have drawn so it can be less costly.This may be a little costly but the legal remedies available to you require legal expertise.This is quite a lot more likely than kidney removal and quite a lot more costly.Working wives are less costly to divorce.The photographers were warned they could face an enormously costly legal battle.It would make the renovations easier and less costly.The council says it is monitoring the situation and is keen to avoid lengthy and costly legal proceedings.They are costly and often applicants who come in through an agency just as quickly depart through an agency.Yes, this is a costly sacrifice.

In other languages
costly

British English: costly ADJECTIVE

If you say that something is costly, you mean that it costs a lot of money, often more than you would want to pay.

Having professionally-made curtains can be costly.

American English: costly
Brazilian Portuguese: caro
Chinese: 昂贵的
European Spanish: costoso
French: coûteux
German: kostspielig
Italian: costoso
Japanese: 高価な
Korean: 비싼
European Portuguese: caro
Latin American Spanish: costoso

Chinese translation of 'costly'

costly

(ˈkɔstlɪ)

adj

(= expensive) 昂贵(貴)的 (ángguì de)
(fig) 代价(價)惨(慘)重的 (dàijià cǎnzhòng de)

1 (adjective) in the sense of expensive

Definition

expensive

Having curtains professionally made can be costly.

Synonyms

expensive

He has a lot of expensive recording equipment.

dear

Don't buy that one – it's too dear.

stiff

excessive

banks which cripple their customers with excessive charges

steep (informal)

The annual premium can be a little steep.

highly-priced

exorbitant

exorbitant housing prices

extortionate

the extortionate price of designer clothes

Opposites

reduced

fair

cheap

reasonable

low-priced

inexpensive

economical

dirt-cheap

cheapo (informal)

2 (adjective) in the sense of splendid

the exceptionally beautiful and costly cloths made in northern Italy

Synonyms

splendid

a splendid Victorian mansion

rich

This is a Baroque church with a rich interior.

valuable

valuable old books

precious

jewellery and precious objects belonging to her mother

gorgeous

Some of these Renaissance buildings are absolutely gorgeous.

lavish

a lavish party to celebrate his fiftieth birthday

luxurious

a luxurious hotel

sumptuous

a sumptuous feast

priceless

priceless works of art

opulent

an opulent lifestyle

3 (adjective) in the sense of damaging

Definition

involving great loss or sacrifice

If you follow the procedures correctly you will avoid costly mistakes.

Synonyms

damaging

Is the recycling process damaging to the environment?

disastrous

the recent, disastrous earthquake

harmful

the harmful effects of smoking

catastrophic

A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage.

loss-making

ruinous

the ruinous effects of the conflict

deleterious (formal)

Fear of crime is having a deleterious effect on society.

Additional synonyms

in the sense of catastrophic

A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage.

Synonyms

disastrous,

devastating,

tragic,

calamitous,

cataclysmic

in the sense of dear

Definition

charging high prices

Don't buy that one – it's too dear.

Synonyms

expensive,

costly,

high-priced,

excessive,

pricey (informal),

at a premium,

overpriced,

exorbitant

in the sense of deleterious

Definition

harmful or injurious

Fear of crime is having a deleterious effect on society.

Synonyms

harmful,

bad,

damaging,

destructive,

detrimental,

hurtful,

pernicious (formal),

ruinous,

prejudicial,

injurious

Synonyms of 'costly'

costly

Explore 'costly' in the dictionary

单词	costly
释义	Trends of costly View usage for: costly (kɒstli, US kɔːst-) Word forms: comparative costlier, superlative costliest 1. adjective If you say that something is costly, you mean that it costs a lot of money, often more than you would want to pay. Having professionally-made curtains can be costly, so why not make your own? Synonyms: expensive, dear, stiff, excessive More Synonyms of costly 2. adjective If you describe someone's action or mistake as costly, you mean that it results in a serious disadvantage for them, for example the loss of a large amount of money or the loss of their reputation. Psychometric tests can save organizations from grim and costly mistakes. This sort of scandal in international banking has been politically costly. More Synonyms of costly costly in British English (ˈkɒstlɪ) adjectiveWord forms: -lier or -liest 1. of great price or value; expensive 2. entailing great loss or sacrifice a costly victory 3. splendid; lavish Derived forms costliness (ˈcostliness) noun costly in American English (ˈkɔstli; ˈkɑstli) adjectiveWord forms: ˈcostlier or ˈcostliest 1. a. costing much; expensive; dear b. at the cost of great effort, damage, sacrifice, etc. a costly victory 2. magnificent; sumptuous 3. Archaic lavish; extravagant SYNONYMY NOTE: costly refers to something that costs much and usually implies richness, magnificence, rareness,etc. [costly gems]: it is often applied to that which it would cost much in money or effort to corrector replace [a costly error]; expensive implies a price in excess of the article's worth or of the purchaser's ability topay [an expensive hat]; dear implies an exorbitant price or one considerably beyond the normal or fair price [meat is so dear these days]; valuable, in this connection, implies such great value as to bring a high price [a valuable collection]; invaluable suggests value so great that it cannot be appraised in monetary terms [invaluable aid] OPPOSITE: cheap Derived forms costliness (ˈcostliness) noun Word origin ME: see cost & -ly1 Examples of 'costly' in a sentence costly Going to court is costly and can often lead to increased bitterness. Times, Sunday Times (2010) You pay interest on only the cash you have drawn so it can be less costly. The Sun (2008) This may be a little costly but the legal remedies available to you require legal expertise. The Sun (2015) This is quite a lot more likely than kidney removal and quite a lot more costly. Times, Sunday Times (2013) Working wives are less costly to divorce. Times, Sunday Times (2006) The photographers were warned they could face an enormously costly legal battle. The Sun (2007) It would make the renovations easier and less costly. Times, Sunday Times (2015) The council says it is monitoring the situation and is keen to avoid lengthy and costly legal proceedings. Times, Sunday Times (2012) They are costly and often applicants who come in through an agency just as quickly depart through an agency. Times, Sunday Times (2006) Yes, this is a costly sacrifice. Christianity Today (2000) Exposed by the financial crisis, banks have been hit by a series of costly scandals. Times, Sunday Times (2016) It will probably be used only rarely owing to the costly and time-consuming nature of the process. Times, Sunday Times (2012) It was obviously a time-consuming and costly experience. The Sun (2011) In many cases these can be costly and time-consuming to treat. Times, Sunday Times (2013) Everything is exposed to the elements, and that makes it very costly. Times, Sunday Times (2014) Kingsbridge is less costly than nearby Salcombe. Times, Sunday Times (2013) Forced downtime is what they really shared, and it has become a rare and often costly thing. Times, Sunday Times (2014) With the rows often ending in costly battles, many administrators admit that they quietly concede to the demands. Times, Sunday Times (2006) It is only ten years since the split capital investment trust scandal, a costly mess stoked by all three of those factors. Times, Sunday Times (2015) One way to test who's genuinely committed is to see who is willing to undertake a costly sacrifice '. Times, Sunday Times (2010) That could lead to billions of pounds in payments, dashing hopes that banks can soon draw a line under the costliest mis-selling scandal in history. Times, Sunday Times (2015) In other languages costly British English: costly ADJECTIVE If you say that something is costly, you mean that it costs a lot of money, often more than you would want to pay. Having professionally-made curtains can be costly. American English: costly Brazilian Portuguese: caro Chinese: 昂贵的 European Spanish: costoso French: coûteux German: kostspielig Italian: costoso Japanese: 高価な Korean: 비싼 European Portuguese: caro Latin American Spanish: costoso Chinese translation of 'costly' costly (ˈkɔstlɪ) adj (= expensive) 昂贵(貴)的 (ángguì de) (fig) 代价(價)惨(慘)重的 (dàijià cǎnzhòng de) 1 (adjective) in the sense of expensive Definition expensive Having curtains professionally made can be costly. Synonyms expensive He has a lot of expensive recording equipment. dear Don't buy that one – it's too dear. stiff excessive banks which cripple their customers with excessive charges steep (informal) The annual premium can be a little steep. highly-priced exorbitant exorbitant housing prices extortionate the extortionate price of designer clothes Opposites reduced , fair , cheap , reasonable , low-priced , inexpensive , economical , dirt-cheap , cheapo (informal) 2 (adjective) in the sense of splendid the exceptionally beautiful and costly cloths made in northern Italy Synonyms splendid a splendid Victorian mansion rich This is a Baroque church with a rich interior. valuable valuable old books precious jewellery and precious objects belonging to her mother gorgeous Some of these Renaissance buildings are absolutely gorgeous. lavish a lavish party to celebrate his fiftieth birthday luxurious a luxurious hotel sumptuous a sumptuous feast priceless priceless works of art opulent an opulent lifestyle 3 (adjective) in the sense of damaging Definition involving great loss or sacrifice If you follow the procedures correctly you will avoid costly mistakes. Synonyms damaging Is the recycling process damaging to the environment? disastrous the recent, disastrous earthquake harmful the harmful effects of smoking catastrophic A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage. loss-making ruinous the ruinous effects of the conflict deleterious (formal) Fear of crime is having a deleterious effect on society. Additional synonyms in the sense of catastrophic A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage. Synonyms disastrous, devastating, tragic, calamitous, cataclysmic in the sense of dear Definition charging high prices Don't buy that one – it's too dear. Synonyms expensive, costly, high-priced, excessive, pricey (informal), at a premium, overpriced, exorbitant in the sense of deleterious Definition harmful or injurious Fear of crime is having a deleterious effect on society. Synonyms harmful, bad, damaging, destructive, detrimental, hurtful, pernicious (formal), ruinous, prejudicial, injurious Synonyms of 'costly' costly Explore 'costly' in the dictionary
随便看	lender lender of last resort lending lending bank lending library lending-library lending limit lending policy lending rate lending-rate lending target lend itself lend itself to lend itself to something lendl lend-lease lend oneself lend-yourself lenes l'enfant lenfant leng lenglen length lengthen

Trends ofcostly

costly

costly in British English

costly in American English

Examples of 'costly' in a sentencecostly

In other languagescostly

Chinese translation of 'costly'

costly

adj

Additional synonyms

Synonyms of 'costly'

costly

Trends of
costly

Examples of 'costly' in a sentence
costly

In other languages
costly