costing
costing — noun
1. a worked-out figure showing how much money a future product, project, or activit
a worked-out figure showing how much money a future product, project, or activity is expected to require.
Rafael prepared a detailed costing for the new bakery before approaching the bank.
common verb pattern: prepare a costing
The architect sent over the costing for the kitchen renovation by Friday afternoon.
costing + for + project
Without a clear costing, the council refused to approve the new playground proposal.
Putri ran the numbers three times and produced a fresh costing for the school trip.
文法句型
a costing for / on something
do / prepare a costing
用法筆記
Often appears in business and project-management contexts. Subject is usually a planner, accountant, or supplier; object is usually a future product, project, or service. Distinguish from sense 2: this is a calculated estimate that someone produces; sense 2 is the price tag itself.
常見錯誤
2. the amount of money that has to be handed over so you can buy or use something;
the amount of money that has to be handed over so you can buy or use something; the price.
Talia was shocked by the costing of fresh fruit at the seaside market.
the costing of + noun
The farmers complained that the costing of fertiliser had doubled in two years.
costing of + tracked commodity
Apinya checked the costing of every item before paying at the supermarket counter.
Higher fuel charges pushed up the overall costing of the family holiday by a third.
文法句型
the costing of something
用法筆記
Sounds slightly formal or old-fashioned; in everyday speech 'price' or 'cost' is far more common. Often paired with 'of' plus a thing being bought. Distinguish from sense 1: this is the amount actually paid or charged; sense 1 is a planner's calculation of an unpaid future amount.
常見錯誤
3. the amount of energy, time, or personal sacrifice that someone gives up in order
the amount of energy, time, or personal sacrifice that someone gives up in order to reach a goal.
Diya understood the costing of years away from family when she chose this career.
the costing of + abstract noun (years/effort)
Olympic medals carry a heavy costing of training, injury, and lonely mornings on the track.
costing of + plural sacrifices
The young soldier felt the full costing of duty after his second long deployment abroad.
Tariro spoke openly about the costing of stardom on her health and friendships.
- reward
the positive return that follows the effort
文法句型
the costing of effort / time / sacrifice
用法筆記
Appears mostly in reflective, literary, or motivational writing — speeches, biographies, opinion pieces. Almost always followed by 'of' plus an abstract idea (effort, time, sacrifice). Distinguish from sense 4: this is what you actively give; sense 4 is what you suffer or lose as a result.
常見錯誤
4. the harm, loss, or punishment that someone has to accept when they manage to gai
the harm, loss, or punishment that someone has to accept when they manage to gain something else.
The army won the city, but at a costing of thousands of wounded soldiers.
at a costing of + loss
Felix accepted the promotion at the painful costing of his weekends with his children.
costing of + thing lost
The whistleblower exposed the fraud, knowing the costing in friendships and reputation.
Rania saved the village from flooding at a heavy personal costing of her own farmland.
- price
common in 'pay the price for something'
- penalty
stresses imposed punishment, not voluntary loss
- casualties
specifically the human losses in a conflict
- gain
what is won rather than lost
文法句型
a costing of [loss]
at a heavy costing
用法筆記
Common in reflective writing about war, ambition, ethics, or hard choices. Often follows the phrase 'at a costing of' or 'at the costing of'. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is the negative consequence absorbed in the trade-off; sense 3 is the active effort or sacrifice put in.