costly - Master This Word

costly Word Meanings

• having a high price or value
• resulting in a significant loss or expense
• involving great sacrifice or effort

costly Example Sentences

Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.

• The car was too costly for me.
• Many costly items are on sale.
• His mistake was very costly.
• Going to college can be costly.
• Some smartphones are quite costly.

costly Word Etymology

costly: cost + -ly (meaning 'in a manner connected with cost'). Origin: Old English 'cost', from Latin 'costare' (to stand, to be worth). Memory image: Imagine paying a heavy sum to experience something rare and precious, highlighting the value of what is being exchanged.

English Brain Route

I reach for a jacket, move it in the rack, and hold the price tag under the light. I turn the jacket over in my hands and adjust the sleeve length, feeling the cost settle in. The pull between want and plan hints at a push to spend and a pull to save. I set the garment back and keep a steady breath, letting the decision form at its own pace.

Real Context

Costly describes something with a high price or value, or actions that require significant sacrifice or risk. In everyday use you might call a luxury item costly, meaning it's expensive beyond what you would normally pay, or you might say a mistake was costly, implying a heavy price to pay, such as time, money, or opportunity. The phrase can also imply hidden costs, long-term consequences, or moral costs. Native speakers often pair it with 'costly' nouns like 'costly mistake' or 'costly victory' to emphasize the burden or trade-off. It contrasts with affordable, reasonable, or cheap when discussing value versus cost.

Usage Reminders

• Remember: not every expensive item is costly; costly focuses on the burden or loss involved. Distinguish between price (cost) and consequences (costly). Use with nouns like 'costly mistake' or 'costly decision'. Pair with verbs like 'turn out' or 'prove' for emphasis. Avoid overusing with everyday cheap items. Check collocations: costly, costlier, costliness in context. Consider whether the emphasis is financial, time-based, or moral.

Common Misconceptions

• Costly only means expensive; it can also describe time, effort, or moral cost.
• Confusing costly with expensive; expensive describes price, costly emphasizes consequences.
• Costly cannot describe common, everyday items when only price is high; context matters.
• Using costly in neutral praise (e. g., 'costly but effective') can be awkward; choose tone carefully.
• Overusing costly where 'expensive' or 'pricey' would be more natural.

Thinking Differences

Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)

Learning Tips

• Learn common collocations: costly mistake, costly decision, costly price tag.
• Contrast costly with expensive and pricey to feel nuance.
• Practice with a scenario that involves trade-offs (time, money, effort).
• Watch for implied costs: time, opportunity, moral consequences.
• Use in both positive and negative contexts to show nuance.
• Check noun partners to avoid awkward phrasing.

5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English

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