remunerate

American  

[ri-myoo-nuh-rayt] / rɪˈmju nəˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

• remunerates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• remunerated,
  past participle,  past
• remunerating
  present participle

1. to pay, recompense, or reward for work, trouble, etc.

   Synonyms:

   compensate, requite, reimburse

2. to yield a recompense for (work, services, etc.).

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remunerate British  

/ rɪˈmjuːnəˌreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to reward or pay for work, service, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• remunerability
  noun
• remunerator
  noun
• preremunerate
  verb (used with object)
• remunerable
  adjective
• unremunerated
  adjective
• remunerably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• remunerating
  present
• remunerated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• remunerate
  simple
• remunerates
  simple
• have remunerated
  perfect
• has remunerated
  perfect
• am remunerating
  progressive
• are remunerating
  progressive
• is remunerating
  progressive
• have been remunerating
  perfect progressive
• has been remunerating
  perfect progressive

Past

• remunerated
  simple
• had remunerated
  perfect
• was remunerating
  progressive
• were remunerating
  progressive
• had been remunerating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will remunerate
  simple
• will have remunerated
  perfect
• will be remunerating
  progressive
• will have been remunerating
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of remunerate

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin remūnerātus “repaid,” past participle of remūnerāri “to repay, reward,” from re- re- + mūnerāre “to give, bestow” (verb derivative of mūner-, stem of mūnus “gift, duty”)

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Explanation

If I owe you money, then I need to remunerate you. To remunerate is to pay money that is owed. It's nice to be remunerated — that means someone paid you money that was owed. If an employer makes you work overtime, they will need to remunerate you for that. If you lost your dog, offered a reward, and then someone found the dog, that person should be remunerated. When you see remunerate, think "giving someone money they deserve."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

remunerate remunerates remunerated remunerating

Sentencing him to 14-and-a-half years in custody, Judge Michael Simon said: "Nothing this court can do will mend the broken hearts or remunerate the distress on Ashish's family."

From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2023

“The Federal Council proposes that large online service providers should be required to remunerate media companies for the use of snippets,” the government said.

From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2023

The first was that “Ubisoft Singapore has a structured process to remunerate its employees fairly, which does not disadvantage Singaporeans based on nationality or race.”

From The Verge ● Jan. 28, 2022

Those who are the intended targets reward and remunerate the liars by providing what they need—doubt.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2021

If you are so disposed to remunerate me for this expense, please forward the money to me at Applewood.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

The chat then debates how to ensure that Europe remunerates the US for its actions.

From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2025

Euro zone bond yields jumped on Thursday, after European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said that the bank would release a statement on how it remunerates government deposits.

From Reuters ● Sep. 8, 2022

But for those game makers looking to professionalize their work, there’s one big caveat: Roblox remunerates developers at the inverse rate of how video game stores tend to operate.

From The Verge ● Jul. 15, 2021

Shakespeare remunerates close attention, and this polyglot approach made me hear the richness of the language anew.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2021

Is not the virtuous man, from thence in a condition to ardently desire the existence of a system that remunerates the goodness of men?

From The System of Nature, Volume 2 by Paul Henri Thiry, baron d'Holbach

There are moments in life when one realizes one has accidentally become an unpaid educational resource for highly remunerated people.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

"I own about 65% now; I owned 85–90% then. I have never been remunerated for any of the shares I diluted," he said.

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026

"It's ridiculously remunerated so you can end up spending so much time on it and lose money."

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026

Your main character is a hyper-educated, hyper-intelligent humanist, trapped in poorly remunerated, precarious, adjunct labor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2025

Their nearest neighbors were not disturbed by their mirthfulness, nor could persons seated opposite them hear their conversation, and yet Alloway was evidently fast being remunerated for the chagrin and embarrassment of his previous dinner.

From The American Gentleman's Guide to Politeness and Fashion or, Familiar Letters to his Nephews by Henry Lunettes

Both boards confirmed a 10% salary uplift was in place for these people under NHS Scotland guidance for remunerating those undertaking temporary, additional responsibilities outwith their own health board.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026

The government is "obviously in competition" with banks when it comes to remunerating liquidity, he added.

From Reuters ● May 31, 2023

At the time, Viva had angrily marked up the section about herself with a pen because she didn’t want Mr. Bard to use her to publicize the place without remunerating her.

From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2023

Loria now has two ex-managers under contract — Redmond and Ozzie Guillen — and with Jennings already on the payroll, he avoids the financial hardship and social ignominy of simultaneously remunerating a third future ex-manager.

From Washington Post ● May 24, 2015

Further, after covering all losses, and remunerating the owner for forbearing to consume, there must be something left to recompense the labor and skill of the person who devotes his time to the business.

From Principles Of Political Economy Abridged with Critical, Bibliographical, and Explanatory Notes, and a Sketch of the History of Political Economy by John Stuart Mill

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