# price

/ˈpɹaɪs/ (US) · /pɹˈaɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/price
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. monetary cost

noun · CEFR A1

the amount of money you must pay to buy something.

For teachers: the amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something.

- The price of petrol has gone up again this month.
- The consumer price index rose sharply, reflecting the increased cost of imported goods and energy supplies.

### 2. consequence

noun · CEFR B2

the unpleasant thing you must suffer to get what you want.

For teachers: the unpleasant consequences of an action or a particular way of life.

- Stress is often the price of a high-paying job.
- The environmental degradation of the river was a heavy price to pay for the rapid industrialisation of the valley.

### 4. to set a cost

verb · CEFR B1

to decide how much something should cost.

For teachers: to fix or determine the price of something for sale.

- The shopkeeper priced the handmade rugs at two hundred dollars each.
- The marketing department struggled to price the new software competitively while still covering the significant research and development costs.

### 5. to check the cost

verb · CEFR B1

to find out how much something costs in different places.

For teachers: to compare the prices of goods or services, often to find the best value.

- We spent the afternoon pricing new cars at several different dealerships.
- Before committing to the renovation, they spent weeks pricing materials at various wholesale suppliers to ensure the project stayed within budget.

## Examples

- The price of the book is ten dollars.
- The store lowered the price of winter coats to make room for the new spring collection.
- While the technological advancements brought significant convenience, the price of such progress was a noticeable decline in personal privacy and data security.

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