ultimate price

USAGE SUMMARY

"ultimate price" is an appropriate phrase for written English.
You can use it to refer to the greatest cost or sacrifice that someone or something may have to pay. For example, "The freedom fighters paid the ultimate price in their struggle for independence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Others have paid the ultimate price.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sometimes they pay the ultimate price".

The New York Times

Some tragically pay the ultimate price.

Independent

Fame, however, came at the ultimate price.

The New York Times

Many have paid the ultimate price.

The New York Times

Today, he paid the ultimate price".

The New York Times

"They paid the ultimate price for freedom.

The New York Times

Facing the pain now should reduce the ultimate price increase.

University of California, Berkeley

For their act of trespass, they paid the ultimate price.

The New York Times - Science

"Prepare to pay the ultimate price," the sinister Snow replies.

Independent

That might include, he said, "paying the ultimate price".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the emotional impact when using "ultimate price"; it often implies a loss of life or something equally valuable.

Common error

Avoid using "ultimate price" in situations where the consequence isn't truly significant. Overusing it dilutes its impact and can make your writing seem melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimate price" functions as a noun phrase typically serving as the object of a verb, such as "pay" or "face". It denotes the highest possible cost or sacrifice, often implying loss of life, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ultimate price" is a common noun phrase used to denote the greatest possible sacrifice or cost, frequently implying the loss of life. Ludwig AI indicates its usage is grammatically correct and primarily found in News & Media, as well as academic contexts. Related phrases such as "supreme sacrifice" and "greatest cost" offer similar connotations. When using "ultimate price", it's important to ensure the context warrants the weight of the phrase, avoiding overuse in trivial situations. Ludwig's examples and the analyzed data highlight the phrase's solemn and impactful nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supreme sacrifice

Emphasizes the sacrificial aspect, implying a voluntary and noble offering.

ultimate sacrifice

Similar to supreme sacrifice, emphasizing a voluntary offering, often of one's life.

greatest cost

Focuses on the magnitude of the expense or consequence involved.

final toll

Highlights the concluding and often devastating impact of a situation.

irreparable loss

Underscores the inability to recover from the damage or cost incurred.

fatal consequence

Specifies that the outcome leads to death or a similarly dire result.

death toll

Specifically quantifies the loss of life in a particular event or situation.

steepest price

Indicates the high cost, either literally or figuratively, associated with something.

heavy cost

Implies a substantial negative impact or burden as a result of an action or event.

hefty penalty

Focuses on the severity of the punishment or consequence.

FAQs

What does it mean to pay the "ultimate price"?

Paying the "ultimate price" typically means sacrificing one's life, especially in service of a greater cause or principle. It can also refer to incurring the most severe consequence possible for a particular action.

What are some alternatives to saying "ultimate price"?

You can use alternatives like "supreme sacrifice", "greatest cost", or "irreparable loss" depending on the specific context.

Is "ultimate price" the same as "ultimate sacrifice"?

While closely related, "ultimate sacrifice" specifically emphasizes the act of giving up something valuable, often one's life, whereas "ultimate price" can refer more broadly to the most severe consequence, which may or may not be a sacrifice. The phrase "supreme sacrifice" is another close alternative.

How can I use "ultimate price" in a sentence?

You can say "He paid the "ultimate price" for his bravery" or "They understood that failure would mean paying the "ultimate price"."