costly

[kawst-lee, kost-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR costly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, cost·li·er, cost·li·est.

costing much; expensive; high in price: a costly emerald bracelet; costly medical care.

resulting in great expense: The upkeep of such a large house is costly.

resulting in great detriment: It was a costly mistake because no one ever trusted him again.

of great value; very valuable; sumptuous.

lavish; extravagant.

Origin of costly

First recorded in 1350–1400, costly is from the Middle English word costli. See cost, -ly

Related formscost·li·ness, nouno·ver·cost·li·ness, nouno·ver·cost·ly, adjectiveun·cost·ly, adjective

Synonyms for costly

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR costly ON THESAURUS.COM

1. dear, high-priced. See expensive.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for costly

valuable, pricey, catastrophic, ruinous, disastrous, dear, excessive, executive, exorbitant, extortionate, extravagant, fancy, high, high-priced, inordinate, precious, premium, steep, stiff, top

Examples from the Web for costly

Contemporary Examples of costly

Pulling oil from the tar sands is costly, even more so when you tack transportation costs on top.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4
PunditFact.com
January 5, 2015
The studio took him at his word and jumped at the chance to close down, or at least reduce, his costly operation.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days
David Freeman
December 13, 2014
Is she too hawkish for the activists who helped make her vote for the Iraq War so costly back in the 2008 campaign?
Want President Hillary? Then Primary Her
Jeff Greenfield
November 24, 2014
Governor Bobby Jindal insists it would be too costly for the state, whose share would total nearly $2 billion over 10 years.
Living in Louisiana’s Tragic Health-Care Limbo
Linda Marsa
November 15, 2014
No matter how constitutionally suspect, how costly, how slapdash, or how disappointing a grand policy might be, well, they tried.
Our Lame Cult of the Presidency
James Poulos
October 14, 2014

Historical Examples of costly

She was plain; she was simple; but it was the costly simplicity of extravagance.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
I have studied the sex in a very celebrated and costly school.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
A fine and costly residence, particularly that of a great official.
The Devil's Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
Hn-lfing, name of a costly sword, which Finn presents to Hengest, 1144.
Beowulf
Unknown
But we have costly presents for those who are friendly towards us.'
Freeland
Theodor Hertzka

British Dictionary definitions for costly

costly

adjective -lier or -liest

of great price or value; expensive

entailing great loss or sacrificea costly victory

splendid; lavish

Derived Formscostliness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for costly

adj.

late 14c., from cost + -ly (1). Earlier formation with the same sense were costful (mid-13c.), costious (mid-14c.).