costly en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈkɒst.li/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English costly, costely, costeley, equivalent to cost + -ly.
Meanings
-
Of high cost; expensive.
a costly error
Since sexual relationships are more costly for female primates – they bear the kids – females are the choosier sex.
2012 March 2, Elizabeth Landau, “Beholding beauty: How it’s been studied”, in CNN:a costly activity
Individual mistakes proved costly for Wigan who, particularly after the half-time introduction of Hugo Rodallega, dominated for long periods.
2011 October 15, Michael Da Silva, “Wigan 1 - 3 Bolton”, in BBC Sport:In the early days troubles were experienced with oscillation from the rod drive and with the transformers, but were overcome later, and these machines performed useful service until superseded by more modern locomotives less costly in maintenance.
1960 December 14, Cecil J. Allen, “Operating a mountain main line: the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 743:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| costlier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most costly | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more costly | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| costliest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
overcostly · costly colours · costliness · costlily · uncostly
Synonyms
prohibitive · expensive · dear
Translations (43)
eo altepreza (expensive) · pt custoso (expensive) · bg це́нен (expensive) · sa बहुमूल्य (expensive) · eo multekosta (expensive) · sv kostsam (expensive) · de teuer (expensive) · nl kostbaar (expensive) · es caro (expensive) · lv dārgs (expensive) · is kostnaðarsamur (expensive) · ga luachmhar (expensive) · sv dyr (expensive) · ru дорогосто́ящий (expensive) · pl kosztowny (expensive) · fr coûteux (expensive) · ga costasúil (expensive) · la impensus (expensive) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌿𐍆𐍃 (expensive) · la pretiōsus (expensive) · pt caro (expensive) · fi hintava (expensive) · de kostspielig (expensive) · it dispendioso (expensive) · fr lourd (expensive) · ro costisitor (expensive) · it costoso (expensive) · fi kallis (expensive) · sa महार्घ (expensive) · ro scump (expensive) · it caro (expensive) · ru це́нный (expensive) · es costoso (expensive) · grc πολυτελής (expensive) · ru дорого́й (expensive) · oc costós (expensive) · nl prijzig (expensive) · bg скъп (expensive) · nrf couôteux (expensive) · ga costasach (expensive) · ca costós (expensive) · gd cosgail (expensive) · nl duur (expensive)