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Costly Definition & Meaning

costly
adjective
  1. entailing great loss or sacrifice; "a dearly-won victory"
  2. having a high price; "costly jewelry"; "high-priced merchandise"; "much too dear for my pocketbook"; "a pricey restaurant"

"Costly" in song lyrics

See how costly is used in real songs:

  • "Yeah, if you cross me, that'll be costly"
    Boot Camp Clik — Don't You Cross The Line
  • "Them dum-dum moves gonna prove to be costly"
    Digital Underground — Holla Holiday
  • "Championships mostly, put Hennessy to my lips costly"
    DJ Pooh f/ Threat — Gangsta Vocabulary

Usage tips for "costly"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "costly" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for costly to find words that pair well.

Use "costly" in a verse

Now that you know what "costly" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

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Frequently asked questions

What does costly mean?
entailing great loss or sacrifice; "a dearly-won victory" having a high price; "costly jewelry"; "high-priced merchandise"; "much too dear for my pocketbook"; "a pricey restaurant"
What part of speech is costly?
Costly is an adjective.
How many definitions does costly have?
Costly has 2 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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