price

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the amount of money given or set as consideration for the sale of a specified thing
b
: the quantity of one thing that is exchanged or demanded in barter or sale for another
2
: the cost at which something is obtained
… the price of freedom is restraint …J. Irwin Miller
3
: the terms for the sake of which something is done or undertaken: such as
a
: an amount sufficient to bribe one
believed every man had his price
b
: a reward for the apprehension or death of a person
an outlaw with a price on his head
4
archaic : value, worth

price

2 of 2

verb

priced; pricing

transitive verb

1
: to set a price on
2
: to find out the price of
3
: to drive by raising prices excessively
priced themselves out of the market
pricer noun

Examples of price in a Sentence

Noun You paid a high price for the car. We bought the house at a good price. The price of milk rose. What is the difference in price between the two cars? I know he said he wouldn't do it, but I think it's just a matter of finding his price. Verb They priced the house too high. Workers quickly priced the new merchandise.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The price for this ability to outrun inflation by a sizable margin and compound wealth has been periods of painful and unforeseeable declines. Bill Stone, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 Douglas Johnson, the company’s owner and president, said the price of steel started rising as soon as Trump threatened the 25% tariff last month. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
And price drops elsewhere mean that some phones are now even better priced. David Phelan, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 The 3 liter set is priced on application, while a 70 centiliter Hennessy Paradis with the same leather accessories retails for 2,300 pounds. Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for price

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pris, from Anglo-French, from Latin pretium price, money; probably akin to Sanskrit prati- against, in return — more at pros-

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of price was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Price.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/price. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

price

1 of 2 noun
1
: the quantity of one thing and especially money that is exchanged or demanded in exchange for another
2
: reward entry 2 sense 1
a price on an outlaw's head
3
: the cost at which something is gotten or done
victory at any price

price

2 of 2 verb
priced; pricing
1
: to set a price on
2
: to ask the price of
pricer noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English pris "prize, price," from early French pris (same meaning), from Latin pretium "price, money" — related to appreciate, praise, precious, prize entry 1

Biographical Definition

Price

biographical name

(Mary) Le*on*tyne lē-ˈän-ˌtēn How to pronounce Price (audio)
ˈlē-ən-ˌtēn,
ˈlā-
1927–     American soprano

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