# cost

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkɒst/ · frequency rank #568

## Definitions
1. To incur a charge of; to require payment of a (specified) price.
2. To cause something to be lost; to cause the expenditure or relinquishment of.
3. To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.
4. To calculate or estimate a price.
5. To cost (a person) a great deal of money or suffering.

## Etymology
From Middle English costen, from Old French coster, couster (“to cost”), from Medieval Latin cōstō, from Latin cōnstō (“stand together”).

## Easily confused with
- **CT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-ct)
- **cs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cs)
- **cut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cut)
- **cow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cow)
- **cox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cox)
- **CSS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-css)
- **CPS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cps)
- **CVS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cvs)
- **CSI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-csi)
- **cot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cot)
- **CSR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-csr)
- **coz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-coz)
- **CSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-csa)
- **coy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-coy)
- **CRT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-crt)
- **CST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cst)
- **CSU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-csu)
- **CRS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-crs)
- **Cov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-cov)
- **CSP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cost-vs-csp)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ccost`, `cosst`, `costt`, `cots`, `csot`, `ocst`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cost