price out

USAGE SUMMARY

"price out" is a commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to mean determining the cost of something. For example, "We need to price out the new cameras to determine if they fit into our budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

With Mr. Price out, the company could change some of these policies.

The New York Times

With so many variables, I chose to price out two lanes rural interstate over flat terrain.

The New York Times

"If I had to price out all my ingredients," Ms. Littlejohn said, "each box would probably cost $2".

The New York Times - Food

They can price out in great detail any new program thought that comes out of the West Wing".

The New York Times

The downside is that they have the incomes to price out local working class groups in competition for market housing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Shadows of a slowdown have put pressure on the Federal Reserve as it tries to price out interest rate increases.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Without a carbon price, out-of-the-market payments would be needed to effectively maintain merchant nuclear capacity.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Accused felons in Palm Beach County can bail out for about two-thirds the price out-of-state felons face.

The Guardian

Without a carbon price, out-of-the-market payments would be needed to effectively maintain nuclear capacity, though they would create market distortions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They could be locked out, priced out, dumped out.

The New York Times

"People are being priced out," she says.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "price out" in the context of affordability, ensure it's clear who or what is being priced out. Specify the group or item being affected to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "price out" when you simply mean "calculate the price". "Price out" often implies that the calculated price has a consequence, such as making something unaffordable or uncompetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "price out" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. It is used transitively to denote the computation of a total price or intransitively to describe a situation where costs become prohibitive, excluding individuals or groups from a market. Ludwig provides many examples to support this dual functionality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

26%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "price out" is a common phrasal verb with two main meanings: to calculate the total cost of something, and to make something unaffordable for someone. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to academia, with a neutral register. When using "price out", be mindful of the implied consequences of affordability, distinguishing it from a mere cost calculation. Related phrases include alternatives like "calculate the cost" and "be too expensive for", each carrying subtle differences in emphasis. The frequency and authoritative sources analyzed by Ludwig underscore its established place in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be unaffordable for

Directly indicates something is beyond one's financial reach.

be too expensive for

Shifts focus to the inability to afford something, the result of pricing out.

be prohibitively expensive

Highlights how the price prevents someone from buying something.

be priced beyond reach

Highlights the idea that something is unattainable due to its price.

be out of reach financially

Stresses the financial aspect of being unable to afford something.

calculate the cost

Focuses on the calculation aspect, omitting the potential exclusion.

exceed one's budget

Focuses on exceeding financial limits, implying the pricing out effect.

determine the price

Similar to calculating, but emphasizes the act of finding the price.

compute the expense

Formal alternative, highlighting the financial outlay.

assess the value

Emphasizes valuation rather than pure cost calculation.

FAQs

How is "price out" used in a sentence?

The phrase "price out" can be used in a sentence to mean either to calculate the cost of something, as in "Let's price out the cost of the project", or to make something unaffordable, as in "The increasing housing costs are pricing out many young families".

What's another way to say "price out"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "calculate the cost", "determine the price", or "be too expensive for".

Is it correct to say someone is "priced out"?

Yes, "priced out" is a commonly used and accepted term to describe a situation where someone can no longer afford something, typically housing or other essential goods/services.

What does it mean when something is described as "priced out of the market"?

It means that the price of that item or service has increased to a level where many potential buyers or consumers can no longer afford it. This effectively removes them from being able to participate in that market.