price

1.nounA2

Definition

the money you give in exchange for a product or a service when you buy it

Example

The price of a bus ticket in Taipei went up from fifteen to twenty dollars.

the price of [something] + went up

Adina compared the prices of three different laptop models before buying one.

compare the prices of [products]

Common collocations

high price
low price
fair price
reasonable price
market price
list price
price tag
price range
price increase
price drop

Synonyms

cost
nearly identical; 'cost' is more common for services or abstract things (the cost of living)
value
what something is worth, not what you actually pay for it
rate
a price per unit of time or amount (the rate for a hotel room)

Grammar Patterns

the price of [something]

at a [adjective] price

Usage Note

Use the preposition 'of' after 'price' to name the thing being sold: the price of petrol. Use 'at' before a specific price point: sold at a fair price.

Common Mistakes

What is the price of this house cost?

What is the price of this house?

The word 'price' already contains the idea of 'cost', so do not add 'cost' after it.

The price is expensive.

The price is high.' or 'The item is expensive.

Things can be expensive, but prices can only be high or low.

2.nounC1

Definition

something bad you have to go through or give up to get what you want — for example, losing sleep to finish a project, or losing friends to stand up for your beliefs

Example

Vivek knew the price of success was waking up at five every morning.

the price of [achievement] = what you must give up

Nia paid a heavy price for trusting a business partner who lied to her.

pay a heavy price for [action]

Common collocations

heavy price
high price
human price
price of success
price of fame
pay the price

Synonyms

cost
the most common alternative; 'the cost of war' and 'the price of war' are both possible, but 'cost' feels slightly more neutral
penalty
stronger and more punishment-focused; 'the penalty for missing the deadline'
sacrifice
emphasises what you willingly give up; 'the sacrifices parents make for their children'

Antonyms

reward
what you gain instead of what you lose
benefit
a positive outcome rather than a negative consequence

Grammar Patterns

the price of [achievement]

pay a/the price for [action]

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs such as 'pay', 'accept', or 'demand'. The structure 'the price of [noun]' names the achievement or goal, and the price itself is a downside you must accept for it.

Common Mistakes

The price of working hard is getting a promotion.' (This sounds like the promotion is a bad result.)

The price of getting a promotion is working harder.

Use 'price' for negative consequences of achieving something, not for the reward itself.

Idioms

at any price

idiom

This means that you will do something no matter how much it costs or how difficult it is.

Maya wanted to win the race at any price.

Would you save a stranger's life at any price?

at a price

idiom

This means that something is possible but only if you pay a lot of money or accept a disadvantage.

You can get fresh flowers in winter, but at a price.

Sara agreed to help, at a price.

cheap at the price

idiom

This means that something is so good or useful that the cost seems reasonable even if it is high.

The expensive guitar was cheap at the price for a professional musician.

A good education is cheap at the price.

everyone has their price

idiom

This means that any person can be persuaded to do something if you offer them enough money or something they want.

The politician refused the bribe, but everyone has their price.

Do you believe that everyone has their price?

not at any price

idiom

This means that you refuse to do or sell something no matter how much money you are offered.

Diego would not sell his dog, not at any price.

I wouldn't work for that company again, not at any price.

pay the/a penalty/price (for something/for doing something)

idiom

This means to suffer because of a mistake, bad luck, or something you have done.

He paid the price for staying up too late.

Mia paid a heavy penalty for her carelessness.

a price on somebody’s head

idiom

This means that a reward is offered for capturing or killing a person.

The outlaw had a price on his head.

After the betrayal, a price was on her head.

put a price on something

idiom

This means to state how much money something valuable is worth.

The appraiser put a price on the antique vase.

You cannot put a price on true friendship.

what price…?

idiom

This is used to suggest that something may not be worth the problems it causes.

What price success if you lose your friends?

What price winning the championship if the team splits up?

beyond price

idiom

Something that is beyond price is so valuable that you cannot put a monetary value on it.

The antique vase was beyond price, so the museum kept it safe.

Is the advice from a wise friend beyond price? Sara thinks so.

1.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to decide what amount of money a product or service should sell for and put that number on it

Example

The new laptop is priced at forty thousand dollars at the electronics store.

passive: be priced at [amount]

Valentina priced her handmade scarves at five hundred dollars each for the market.

price + object + at + amount

Common collocations

priced at
priced too high
priced too low
competitively priced
reasonably priced

Synonyms

set the price of
more explicit and formal; 'the company set the price of the drug at...'
value
similar but often used for insurance or appraisal; 'the ring was valued at ten thousand dollars'

Grammar Patterns

price + object + at + amount

be priced at [amount]

Usage Note

Very common in the passive voice (is priced, was priced). The price is always introduced by the preposition 'at', never 'for' or 'with'. The subject is typically a seller, shop, or manufacturer — not a buyer.

Common Mistakes

The shop priced the goods for 500 dollars.

The shop priced the goods at 500 dollars.

Use 'at' after 'priced', not 'for'.

2.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to check what amount of money different sellers are asking for an item so that you can decide where to buy

Example

Astrid spent the morning pricing office desks for her new small bakery.

price + [objects] to compare costs before buying

Tuan priced several airlines before booking his flight home for New Year's.

price + [options] before [decision]

Common collocations

price around
price several [options]
price before buying

Synonyms

check the price of
easier to understand for learners at lower levels
compare prices of
more precise when looking at multiple sellers
shop around for
a phrasal verb covering the same activity of comparing before buying

Grammar Patterns

price + object

price around [multiple options]

Usage Note

Distinguish from verb sense 1 (SET PRICE): in this sense the subject is the buyer checking costs, not the seller deciding them. This sense is almost always active-voice. It often appears followed by several options being compared.

Common Mistakes

I priced the bag at the store and decided not to buy it.' (Ambiguous — could mean you set the price.)

I priced the bag at several stores to find the best deal.

In sense 2, the subject is clearly a buyer comparing, not the seller.

Word family

pricey
adjectiveB2
priceless
adjectiveC1
pricing
nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words relate to money, but they are used differently. Price is the specific amount you pay to buy something — it is the number on the tag. Cost is broader: it can mean price (the cost of a ticket), but it also includes expenses over time (the cost of living, the cost of repairs). Value refers to what something is worth to you, which may be different from its price — a cheap watch may have great sentimental value. Worth is similar to value but is used in set expressions (worth every dollar, well worth it). Rate is a price measured per unit: per hour (hourly rate), per night (hotel rate), or per quantity (interest rate). For everyday shopping, use price for the number you must pay and cost for the total expense.

cost ↗value ↗worth ↗rate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

price tag
price range
price list
price increase
price drop

Adverbs

fairly priced
reasonably priced
competitively priced

Phrases

at any price
at what price
a price on something

Prepositions

at a price
price of
price for

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'price' comes from Latin pretium, meaning 'reward' or 'value'. It travelled into Old French as pris, which carried both the 'value' meaning and a sense of 'praise' (a connection still visible in 'praise' and 'prize'). Middle English adopted it as pris, which later split into two spellings: 'price' for the money meaning and 'prize' for something won in a competition. The modern spelling with 'c' appeared around the 1500s.

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price

price — noun

1. the money you give in exchange for a product or a service when you buy it

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. something bad you have to go through or give up to get what you want — for examp

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

price — verb

1. to decide what amount of money a product or service should sell for and put that

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to check what amount of money different sellers are asking for an item so that y

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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