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at all costs

Idioms  
  1. Also,. Regardless of the expense or effort involved, by any means. For example, Ann told the doctor to preserve her mother's sight at all costs, or It seems the company plans to develop the product at any cost, or I'm determined to get vacation time at any price. [Mid-1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One problem with formal language learning is that it encourages us to focus on accuracy at all costs.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

Nearly 90% of the Taiwanese people oppose a Chinese takeover, and about 60% say they would resist it at all costs.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

In an era where batting averages are plummeting and homers and strikeouts are nearing all-time highs, Murakami serves as the ultimate manifestation of baseball’s unending pursuit of power at all costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

By his own admission, he is 'a man of the badge', fully committed to fighting for the club at all costs.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

And I think that mine is this: a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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